THE  LIBRARY 

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THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

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117 


I  i 


THE 


HISTORY   OF    FAIRFIELD 


FAIRFIELD  COUNTY,  CONNECTICUT 


FROM    THE   SETTLEMENT   OF    THE    TOWN 
IN  1639    TO    1818 


BY 

MRS.    ELIZABETH    HUBBELL    SCHENCK 


VOL 


PUBLISHED    BY   THE    AUTHOR 
NEW  YORK 

1889 


COPYRIGHTED,  1689,  BY 
ELIZABETH    H.   SCHENCK. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Co., 
Astor  Place,  New  York. 


V,  1 
PREFACE 


The  Centennial  commemoration  of  the  burning  of  the  town  of  Fairfield 
on  the  8th  of  July,  1879,  revived  many  recollections  of  interest  in  the 
minds  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  awakened  a  desire  among 
the  younger  descendants  of  our  colonial  forefathers  to  learn  more  of  its 
early  history.  It  was  for  this  reason  that  the  author  ventured  to  offer  her 
Centennial  Reminiscences  of  Fairfield  to  the  public.  These  reminiscences 
had  been  published  in  the  Republican  Standard,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, about  three  months,  when,  at  the  annual  gathering  of  "The  Library 
Association  of  Fairfield,"  in  January,  1880,  the  author  was  invited  to  con- 
tinue and  write  the  history  of  the  town.  About  six  weeks  afterwards  she 
received  the  following  letter  : 

FAIRFIELD,  February  \6th,  1880. 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Schenck,  Southport,   Conn.  : 

DEAR  MADAM  : — The  undersigned,  having  read  with  interest  your  articles  in  the 
Bridgeport  Standard,  entitled  "Centennial  Reminiscences  of  Fairfield,"  and  regarding 
them  as  a  valuable  contribution  to  our  local  history,  respectfully  tender  to  you  this  expres- 
sion of  their  desire  that  you  will  continue  the  labor  in  which  you  are  engaged,  and  when 
completed,  that  you  will  place  its  results  in  permanent  and  accessible  form. 

JAS.  K.  LOMBARD,     DWIGHT  MORRIS,     SAMUEL  OSGOOD,          N.  S.  RICHARDSON, 
MORRIS  W.  LYON,   EATON  W.  MAXCY,  SAMUEL  MOREHOUSE,  A.  N.  LEWIS, 
ISAAC  JENNINGS,        JOHN  WILLIAMS,      O.B.JENNINGS  JOSEPH  SHEFFIELD, 

JOHN  H.  GLOVER,     JOHN  D.  CANDEE,     SAMUEL  GLOVER,          A.  B.  HULL. 

To  this  letter  the  following  reply  was  made  : 

SOUTHI'ORT,  CONN.,  February  17,  1880. 
To  Messrs.  J '.  K.  Lombard,  Divight  Morris  and  otlicrs  : 

GENTLEMEN  : — Your  complimentary  letter  of  the  i6th,  inviting  me  to  continue  the 
labor  in  which  I  have  been  engaged,  and  when  completed  to  place  its  results  in  perma- 
nent and  accessible  form,  has  been  duly  received.  The  reception  of  so  gratifying  a  tes- 
timonial from  such  a  source  is  most  encouraging,  and  I  beg  you,  one  and  all,  to  accept 
my  grateful  acknowledgment  of  this  kindness. 

I  accept  your  invitation  with  pleasure,  and  if  I  do  not  accomplish  all  that  maybe 
expected  of  the  historian  of  one  of  the  most  interesting  towns  in  Connecticut,  rest  assured 
it  will  not  be  from  any  lack  of  diligence  or  research  on  my  part. 

Again  thanking  you  all  for  your  encouragement  and  good  will,  believe  me, 

•  Very  respectfully  yours, 

E.  H.  SCHENCK.. 


iv  PREFACE 

In  accepting  the  task  of  compiling  the  history  of  a  town,  rich  with 
historic  lore,  the  author  was  fully  sensible  of  the  labor  connected  with  it ; 
but  she  resolved  to  go  bravely  on  and  accomplish  all  that  health,  persever- 
ance, research  and  industry,  would  eventually  achieve.  Fairfield  is  her 
native  town,  and  in  Southport,  which  is  a  part  of  it,  she  was  born.  For 
over  two  hundred  years  her  ancestors  have  lived  and  died  within  the  limits 
of  the  township.  On  the  hill  which  summoned  the  inhabitants  of  Green's 
Farms,  by  the  beating  of  a  drum,  to  the  meeting-house  on  the  Lord's  day, 
her  honored  father,  the  late  Jonathan  Godfrey,  was  born.  Her  great  grand- 
father, Lieutenant  Nathan  Godfrey,  of  Colonel  Whiting's  company,  fought 
the  battles  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  On  her  mother's  side,  she 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  Richard  Hubbell  and  of  Joshua  Jennings,  and  on 
both  sides  of  the  house  of  the  Couch  family.  The  blood  which  nerved 
some  of  the  bravest  men  and  women  of  Fairfield  to  deeds  of  courage, 
endurance,  and  military  and  political  achievements,  runs  in  her  veins. 
It  therefore,  has  proved  no  reluctant  task  for  her  to  write  the  history  of 
the  men  and  women  who  took  part  in  the  settlement  of  New  England, 
and  more  particularly  of  Fairfield. 

It  is  at  all  times  interesting  to  study  the  history  of  our  New  England 
ancestry,  which,  like  the  seed  of  Abraham,  has  become  throughout  the 
vast  domain  of  the  United  States,  in  numbers  like  unto  the  sands  upon 
the  sea-shore:  and  for  their  intelligence,  sound  religious  principles,  thrift, 
ingenuity,  indomitable  perseverance  and  industry,  they  are  honored  by  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth.  Therefore,  to  write  of  their  political  and  military 
prowess,  their  religious  views,  their  manners  and  customs,  will  prove  inter- 
esting to  all  who  love  old  Fairfield. 

The  opinion  which  many  have  entertained  that  the  colonists  of  Con- 
necticut were  of  an  inferior  stock,  Judge  Hollister,  our  late  lamented 
Connecticut  historian,  most  happily  dispels.  He  says  of  them  : 

"The  early  planters  of  Connecticut  were  neither  serfs  nor  the  sons  of  serfs.  So  far 
from  this  were  many  of  them,  that  they  could  trace  their  descent  back  through  the  line 
of  knights  and  gentlemen  of  England  by  means  of  heralds'  visitations,  parish  records, 
and  county  genealogies,  to  say  nothing  of  those  family  pedigrees  that  were  often  trans- 
mitted, as  heirlooms,  from  generation  to  generation,  particularly  in  the  line  of  the  oldest 
son,  to  a  remote  day,  and  some  of  them  to  that  wavering  horizon  where  history  loses 
itself  in  fable." 

Fleeing,  as  our  forefathers  fled,  from  the  religious  intolerance  of  the 
mother  country,  they  found  but  little  time  to  think  of  the  heraldic  devices 
of  their  sires.  Labor,  and  the  honor  of  labor,  with  the  freedom  of  wor- 
shiping the  Great  Jehovah  according  to  their  peculiar  views,  were  the 


PREFACE  V 

thoughts  uppermost  in  their  minds.  Idleness  alone  was  disgrace.  Antici- 
pating the  hardships  to  be  encountered  in  their  venture  to  a  new  country, 
many  of  them,  before  they  left  England  and  Holland,  made  themselves 
familiar  with  the  useful  occupations  of  life.  The  plow,  the  anvil,  the 
harrow,  and  the  spinning  wheel  were  to  be  found  in  almost  every  home  of 
the  New  England  planters ;  and  every  father  made  it  a  matter  of  con- 
science to  teach  his  sons  some  one  of  the  useful  trades,  which  were  indis- 
pensable to  the  founders  of  a  colonial  settlement. 

Many  of  the  colonists  brought  servants  and  slaves  with  them,  yet  such 
was  the  scarcity  of  laborers  that,  "  with  the  exception  of  the  clergy,  nearly 
all  the  original  proprietors  toiled  earnestly  upon  their  plantations,  and 
frequently  in  the  same  field  with  their  servants."  Even  the  pastor  some- 
times, when  the  harvest  was  plentiful  and  the  laborers  few,  did  not  think 
it  beneath  his  dignity  to  work  in  his  own  fields,  and  to  lend  a  helping  hand 
to  his  neighbors. 

Brave  women,  many  of  whom  were  of  gentle  blood,  who  had  known 
nothing  of  the  hardships  of  life  before  leaving  England,  sang  sweet  songs 
to  the  low  music  of  the  spinning-wheel.  "  To  labor,"  with  them,  "  was  to 
pray."  And  while  the  men  worked  in  the  field,  and  the  women  marked 
the  moments  of  time  as  they  passed  by  each  turn  of  the  spinning  wheel, 
we  can  in  imagination  picture  the  pleasure  with  which  they  labored  in  the 
following  beautiful  lines  : 

"  Labor  is  health  !     Lo,  the  husbandman  reaping, 
How  through  his  veins  goes  the  life  current  leaping  ! 
How  his  strong  arm  in  its  stalwart  pride  sweeping, 

True  as  a  sunbeam  the  swift  sickle  guides. 
Labor  is  wealth — in  the  sea  the  pearl  groweth  ; 
Rich  the  queen's  robe  from  the  cocoon  floweth  ; 
From  the  acorn  the  oak  of  the  strong  forest  bloweth  ; 

Temple  and  statue  the  marble  block  hides. 

Labor  !  all  labor  is  noble  and  holy  ; 

Let  thy  great  deed  be  thy  prayer  to  thy  God." 

And  the  one  great  prayer  of  our  Puritan  forefathers,  for  which  they 
cheerfully  endured  the  severance  of  home-ties,  the  perils  of  the  great 
ocean,  and  the  still  greater  perils  of  a  new  and  unsettled  country,  where 
the  subtle  Indian,  and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest  were  ever  on  the  alert 
for  a  new  prey,  was  independence  of  political  and  religious  thought — the 
struggle  for  which  commenced  in  England  in  the  days  of  Wickliff,  and 


VI  PREFACE 

ended  only  when  the  Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  secured  to  all  men  the  rights  of  "  life,  liberty  and  happiness." 

It  was  no  wonder  therefore  that  "  all  labor,"  with  them,  "  was  noble 
and  holy."  In  the  grand  forests,  the  fine  meadow-lands,  the  granite 
quarries,  and  the  clear  blue  rivers  of  New  England,  they  foresaw  fortunes 
which  labor  could  not  fail,  in  the  passage  of  time,  to  give  into  their  posses- 
sion. And  if  for  the  moment  they  laid  aside  their  titles,  and,  in  a  measure 
all  social  distinction,  they,  nevertheless,  in  many  instances  were  careful 
to  preserve  their  family  genealogy  and  coat  of  arms.  In  the  published 
genealogical  works  of  Hinman,  Savage,  and  other  writers  of  New  England, 
are  to  be  seen  the  names  and  birth-places  of  some  of  the  first  planters  of 
Fairfield,  many  of  them  accompanied  with  descriptions  of  their  family 
coat  of  arms. 

Hanging  upon  the  walls  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  care- 
fully preserved,  are  family  heraldic  devices,  showing  the  titled  ancestry  of 
several  of  the  early  settlers  of  Fairfield.  Family  seals  have  been  preserved 
in  the  Probate  Office,  some  of  which  are  very  curious. 

But  the  pioneers  of  Connecticut  were  among  the  bravest  of  men  and 
women,  of  whom  we,  who  bear  their  names,  have  cause  to  be  proud,  with- 
out even  a  trace  of  aught  else  to  excite  that  natural  family  pride,  which  is 
inborn  in  every  loyal  heart,  for  while  our  forefathers  labored  with  cheerful 
hearts,  each  man's  rifle  was  by  his  side,  the  jealous  eye  of  the  red  man  of 
the  forest  being  ever  upon  them,  eager  for  plunder  and  murder.  It  has 
been  estimated  that  when  the  first  settlements  were  formed  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Connecticut  river,  there  were  from  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand 
Indians  within  the  present  limits  of  our  state.  There  were  certainly  many 
hundreds  within  the  bounds  of  Fairfield.  The  dense  forests  gave  a  shelter 
and  a  hiding  place  to  the  bear,  the  weasel  and  the  wildcat.  Wolves  and 
foxes  in  thousands  glared  from  the  thickets,  and  upon  every  favorable 
opportunity  sallied  forth  to  prey  upon  the  cattle  and  sheep. 

But  fear  seems  to  have  been  unknown  to  those  brave  men.  The  pro- 
tecting love  of  God,  to  whom  they  alone  looked  for  guidance,  shielded 
them  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner  from  the  Indians,  as  well  as  from 
the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest.  Where  the  hand  of  the  Great  Jehovah 
guides  He  giveth  courage  for  the  undertaking. 

The  founders  of  New  England  were  Englishmen.  As  a  people  they 
have  remained  remarkably  pure  in  those  physical  and  mental  characteristics 
which  mark  them  the  world  over,  as  a  branch  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race. 
It  is  a  happy  fact  that  in  England  to-day,  an  educated  New  Englander 
is  received  with  the  respect  and  heartfelt  welcome  which  acknowledges  him 


PREFACE 


VU 


as  a  brother.  Particularly  has  this  been  the  case  since  the  Southern  rebel- 
lion, when  New  England  proved  to  the  world,  as  she  did  in  the  days  of 
the  Revolution,  that  she  possessed  not  only  a  race  of  men  of  superior 
physical  endurance  and  military  capability  to  send  into  the  field,  but  men 
of  intellectual  cultivation  and  mental  vigor  to  carry  out  the  aim  of  our 
Puritan  forefathers,  to  establish  a  government  which  should  give  the  privi- 
leges of  a  freeman  even  to  the  humblest  sons  of  Africa.  Another  fact 
which  distinguishes  the  educated  New  Englanders  of  to-day  in  England, 
is  the  pure  manner  among  the  refined  classes  of  speaking  the  English  lan- 
guage, which  it  is  acknowledged  they  speak  more  clearly  and  correctly 
than  the  representatives  of  any  other  part  of  the  United  States.  Their 
firm  religious  character,  as  representative  of  Puritan  principles  and  educa- 
tion, gives  them  a  distinct  individuality  not  only  in  England,  but  through- 
out all  Europe. 

The  first  settlers  of  Fairfield  were  of  English  birth.  In  the  colonial 
and  town  records  they  are  called  "  Englishmen."  In  the  Indian  deeds, 
the  Indian  lands,  and  the  Inglish  or  English  lands  are  mentioned.  As 
time  passed  they  were  joined  by  representatives  of  other  nations;  in  fact, 
individuals  of  almost  every  nationality  found  their  way  to  the  fair  fields 
of  Uncaway.  For  many  years,  however,  the  planters  of  Fairfield,  as  well 
as  those  throughout  New  England,  remained  a  remarkably  pure  and 
unmixed  race.  After  the  Battle  of  Dunbar  and  Worcester,  Cromwell  sent 
four  or  five  hundred  Scotch  prisoners  to  Boston,  some  of  whom  remained 
in  America,  while  others  in  time  returned  to  their  native  country.  The 
Scotch  name  of  Dougal  or  Douglas  Mac  Kensey  for  whom  Kensey's  Point 
was  named,  was  for  many  years  a  representative  of  a  well  known  name  of 
that  nation  in  Fairfield. 

In  1685,  at  which  time  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  was 
declared,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  families  of  French  Huguenots  settled 
in  Massachusetts,  and  scattered  throughout  the  various  settlements  of 
New  England.  Again  in  1719  one  hundred  and  twenty  Scotch-Irish  fami- 
lies came  over  and  settled  in  New  Hampshire  and  elsewhere. 

The  barren  soil  of  Massachusetts  led  many  of  her  planters  to  settle  in 
the  river  towns  on  the  Connecticut,  and  at  Fairfield,  Stratford,  and  New 
Haven.  In  Connecticut  they  found  all  that  their  fondest  anticipations 
had  pictured.  But  the  place  of  all  other  places  to  form  a  settlement,  in 
the  eyes  of  our  forefathers,  was  at  Uncaway  and  Pequonnock,  the  dis- 
covery and  settlement  of  which,  and  the  history  of  the  men  and  women 
who  took  an  active  part  in  the  colonial  history  of  one  of  the  oldest  towns 
in  the  state,  will  always  be  dear  to  every  Fairfielder. 


viii  PREFACE 

The  author  has  endeavored  to  give  an  accurate  account  of  the  histori- 
cal events  which  for  many  years  made  Fairfield  the  shire-town  of  the 
county,  and  one  of  the  prominent  settlements  of  New  England. 

To  state  facts,  not  individual  opinions,  has  been  her  aim.  If  she  has 
in  any  way  failed  in  carrying  out  this  idea,  she  will  at  least  have  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  made  an  honest  effort  in  that  direction,  and  fulfilled 
the  promise  to  those  who  intrusted  her  with  writing  this  history. 

Happily,  the  author  has  neither  been  destitute  of  encouragement  nor 
of  liberal  support,  in  the  way  of  books  and  papers  of  value,  from  many 
kind  friends,  among  the  most  helpful  of  whom  have  been  the  honored 
state  librarian  of  Connecticut,  C.  C.  Hoadley,  Brewstcr  Hackley  of  Black 
Rock,  the  late  Hon.  Joseph  Sheffield,  of  New  Haven,  the  Rev.  J.  K. 
Lombard,  of  Fairfield,  and  the  late  lamented  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Osgood. 

It  has  been  by  special  request  that  the  first  volume  of  this  work  has 
been  offered  to  the  public,  that  the  eyes  of  those  who  have  nearly  reached 
the  age  of  fourscore  years  may  read  of  the  heroic  deeds  of  their  fore- 
fathers, in  their  earnest  efforts  to  establish  this  great  republic  of  the  United 
States  upon  a  basis  of  firm  religious  and  political  freedom. 

ELIZABETH  HUBBELL  SCHENCK. 


IN  the  spring  of  1636,  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  commissioned 
Roger  Ludlow  and  seven  other  gentlemen,  to  govern  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut "  for  the  space  of  one  year."  At  the  expiration  of  the  year 
Roger  Ludlow,  who  had  acted  as  governor  of  the  colony,  summoned  his 
constituents  to  attend  a  General  Court  at  Hartford,  to  consider  the  neces- 
sary steps  to  be  taken  for  the  protection  of  the  infant  settlements  on  the 
Connecticut.  After  deliberating  upon  the  barbarities  of  their  chief  enemy 
the  Pequots,  one  of  the  most  powerful  Indian  tribes  in  New  England, 
and  the  dangers  thickening  around  them,  a  proclamation  of  war  was  issued 
in  the  following  words  : 

"  It  is  ordered  that  there  shall  be  an  offensive  war  against  the  Pequots,  &  that  there 
shall  be  90  men  levied  out  of  the  three  Plantations,  Hartford,  Weathersrield,  &  Windsor, 
(viz)  out  of  Hartford  42,  Windsor  30,  Weathersrield  18  :  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
John  Mason,  &  in  case  of  death  or  sickness,  under  the  command  of  Robt.  Seely  Leift.: 
&  the  eldest  s'geant  or  military  officer  surviving,  if  both  these  miscarry."* 

One  is  filled  with  astonishment  at  this  declaration  of  war  by  a  body  of 
men,  who,  with  all  the  adults  able  to  bear  arms  in  the  three  river  settle- 
ments did  not  exceed  two  hundred  and  fifty,  from  which  nearly  one-third 
were  sent  against  the  Pequots.  This  small  band  of  Englishmen,  with 
brave  hearts  prepared  themselves  to  give  their  very  lives  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  their  homes,  and  the  life  of  the  New  England  colonies.  Bound  in 
one  common  tie  of  brotherhood,  the  other  colonies  resolved  to  assist  them 
in  subduing  the  savage  foe.  Plymouth  agreed  to  send  forty  men,  and 
Massachusetts  one  hundred  and  sixty,  which  included  a  small  band 
already  sent  out  under  Captain  Underbill  to  strengthen  the  fort  at  Say- 
brook.  Before  this  number  could  be  prepared  for  marching,  Captain 
Patrick,  of  Massachusetts,  was  sent  forward  with  forty  men  to  capture  the 
families  of  the  Pequots  in  Block  Island,  after  which  he  was  to  join  Mason's 
forces.  As  prompt  in  action  as  in  their  declaration  of  war,  the  Connecti- 
cut soldiers  were  speedily  equipped  for  the  perilous  undertaking.  On  the 
10th  of  May,  Captain  Mason  with  about  ninety  Englishmen,  and  seventy 

*  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn..  I.,  9.  Lieutenant  Robert  Seely  afterwards  settled  at  Stratford  and  was 
the  ancestor  of  the  Seelys  of  Fairfield  county. 


X  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD 

Mohegan  and  river  Indians  under  Uncas,  sailed  from  Hartford  in  a  pink, 
a  pinnace  and  a  shallop,  down  the  river  to  Saybrook.  The  Rev.  Samuel 
Stone  accompanied  the  expedition  as  chaplain.  Owing  to  the  shallow 
water  of  the  Connecticut  river  at  that  season,  they  were  five  days  in  reach- 
ing the  fort  at  its  mouth.  In  the  mean  time,  Uncas  and  the  other  Indians 
became  impatient,  and  begged  leave  to  make  their  way  to  Saybrook  on 
foot,  which  request  was  granted.  Upon  Mason's  arrival  at  the  fort  (Mon- 
day, May  15)  Uncas  joined  him,  and  related  that  while  on  their  way  he 
and  his  men  had  already  fought  one  battle,  killed  seven  hostile  Indians 
near  the  fort,  and  taken  one  prisoner.*  This  prisoner  had  been  a  spy 
employed  by  Sassacus  to  watch  the  fort,  and  had  witnessed  all  the  mur- 
ders committed  upon  the  garrison  near  it.  Uncas  and  his  men  requested 
that  he  should  be  executed  according  to  the  Indian  custom  of  killing  a 
spy,  which  was  granted.  The  unfortunate  Indian  was  tortured  to  death, 
while  Uncas  and  his  men  danced  around  him  with  savage  delight,  until 
Captain  Underhill  put  an  end  to  his  sufferings,  by  shooting  him  through 
the  head  with  a  pistol.f 

Captain  Mason  had  been  instructed  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  fort  'at 
Pequot  harbor.  The  long  delay,  however,  in  reaching  Saybrook,  and 
adverse  winds  on  the  sound,  led  him  to  fear  that  Sassacus  would  concen- 
trate his  warriors  at  that  point,  and  thus  make  his  attack  unsuccessful. 
He  had  been  educated  in  military  tactics  in  England,  and  conceived  the 
plan  of  passing  by  the  Pequot  harbor,  and  sailing  to  the  Narragansett 
country  as  more  judicious.  By  this  course,  he  not  only  hoped  to  capture 
Sassacus  by  making  an  unexpected  attack  upon  his  rear,  but  thought  he 
might  fall  in  with  the  English  troops  on  their  way  from  Massachusetts. 
He  also  deemed  it  advisable  to  secure  aid  from  the  warriors  of  Canonicus. 

*  A  more  pleasing  incident  than  this  occurred  soon  after  their  arrival  at  Saybrook.  A  Dutch 
vessel  which  had  been  sent  by  Governor  Stuyvesant  to  rescue  two  young  English  girls,  captured  at 
Weathersfield  by  the  Pequots,  cast  anchor  under  the  guns  of  the  fort.  Upon  learning  that  they 
were  furnished  with  articles  for  trading  with  the  Pequots,  the  garrison  ordered  them  not  to  leave, 
lest  the  metal  articles  on  board  might  be  purchased  and  manufactured  into  arrow  heads  by  the 
savages.  After  a  parley,  the  captain  was  allowed  to  proceed  on  his  mission.  Upon  entering  the 
Thames,  he  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Sassacus  offering  a  ransom  for  the  two  young  girls,  but  the 
haughty  chief  refused  to  give  them  up.  The  Dutch  captain  then  invited  some  of  the  principal 
Pequots  on  board  his  vessel,  made  them  prisoners,  and  sent  a  message  to  Sassacus,  that  unless  he 
exchanged  seven  of  the  prisoners  for  the  two  girls,  he  would  throw  them  all  into  the  sea.  Sassacus 
at  first  laughed  at  the  threat,  but  through  the  influence  of  the  wife  of  Mononotto  was  induced  to 
make  the  exchange,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  young  girls  and  their  friends.  Gardiner  says  in  his 
history  of  the  Pequot  War,  that  he  paid  £10  to  ransom  the  two  girls. 

f  Gardiner's  Hist,  of  the  Pequot  War,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  V.,  S.  3,  131-163.  P.  Vincent's 
Hist.  Pequot  War,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  VI.,  S.  3,  36. 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER  xi 

Many  of  his  men  were  opposed  to  this  plan.  They  had  already  been 
longer  from  home  than  they  had  anticipated  ;  and  thought  the  attack,  as 
ordered  by  the  General  Court,  should  be  made  at  all  hazards. 

"But  Capt.  Mason,  apprehending  an  exceeding  great  hazard  in  so  doing  for  the 
reasons  fore  mentioned,  as  also  some  other  which  I  shall  forbear  to  trouble  you  with, 
did  therefore  earnestly  desire  Mr.  Stone  that  he  would  commend  our  condition  to 
the  Lord  that  night,  to  direct  how,  and  in  what  manner  we  should  demean  ourselves  in 
that  Respect :  he  being  our  Chaplin  and  lying  aboard  our  Pink,  the  Captain  on  shoar.  In 
the  morning  very  early  Mr.  Stone  came  ashoar  to  the  Captain's  chamber,  and  told  him  he 
had  done  as  he  desired,  and  was  fully  satisfied  to  sail  for  Narragansett:  our  council  was 
then  called,  and  the  several  reasons  alledged  :  in  fine  we  all  agreed  with  one  aqcord  to 
sail  for  Narragansett,  which  the  next  morning,  (May  12,)  we  put  in  execution. 

The  little  army  arrived  at  Narragansett  bay  on  Saturday  towards  evening,  where 
they  kept  the  Sabbath.  On  account  of  the  wind  they  were  not  able  to  go  on  shore  till 
sunset  on  Tuesday,  when  Capt.  Mason  landed  and  went  to  the  chief  sachem's  residence, 
and  desired  a  free  passage  through  his  country,  which  was  granted.  The  next  day, 
Wednesday,  they  arrived  at  a  place  called  Nayantic,  eighteen  or  twenty  miles  distant, 
where  resided  another  Narragansett  sachem,  who  lived  in  a  fort.  As  they  would  not 
suffer  any  of  the  English  to  go  into  their  fort,  Capt.  Mason  set  a  guard  around  it,  and 
would  not  suffer  any  of  the  Indians  to  go  out  and  give  information  to  the  Pequots  of  their 
approach. 

On  Thursday,  about  eight  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  we  marched  thence  towards 
Pequot,  with  about  five  hundred  Indians  ;  but  through  the  heat  of  the  weather  and  want 
of  provisions,  some  of  our  men  fainted,  and  after  having  marched  about  twelve  miles,  we 
came  to  Pawcatuck  river,  at  a  Ford  where  our  Indians  told  us  the  Pequots  did  usually 
fish;  there  making  an  Alta,  we  stayed  some  small  time  ;  the  Narragansett  Indians  mani- 
festing great  fear,  in  so  much  that  many  of  them  returned,  although  they  had  frequently 
despised  us,  saying,  That  we  durst  not  look  upon  a  Pequot,  but  themselves  would  perform 
great  things;  though  we  had  often  told  them  that  we  came  on  purpose,  and  were  resolved. 
God  assisting,  to  see  the  Pequots,  and  to  fight  with  them  before  we  returned,  though  we 
perished.  I  then  enquired  of  Onkos,  (Uncas,)  what  he  thought  the  Indians  would  do  ? 
who  said  the  Narragansetts  would  all  leave  us,  but  as  for  himself,  he  would  never  leave 
us  ;  and  so  it  proved;  for  which  expression,  and  some  other  speeches  of  his,  I  shall  never 
forget  him.  Indeed  he  was  a  great  friend,  and  did  great  service. 

And  after  we  had  refreshed  ourselves  with  our  mean  commons,  we  marched  about 
three  miles,  and  came  to  a  field  which  had  lately  been  planted  with  Indian  corn  :  there 
we  made  another  Alt,  and  called  our  council,  supposing  we  drew  near  to  the  enemy  ;  and 
being  informed  by  the  Indians  that  the  enemy  had  two  forts  almost  impregnable;  but  we 
were  not  at  all  discouraged,  but  rather  animated,  insomuch  that  we  were  resolved  to 
assault  both  their  forts  at  once.  But  understanding  that  one  of  them  was  so  remote  that 
we  could  not  come  up  with  it  before  midnight,  though  we  marched  hard  :  whereat  we 
were  much  grieved,  chiefly  because  the  greatest  and  bloodiest  sachem  there  resided, 
whose  name  was  Sassacons :  We  were  then  constrained,  being  exceedingly  spent  in  our 
march  with  extreme  heat  and  want  of  necessaries,  to  accept  the  nearest." 

"  We  then  marching  on  in  a  silent  manner,  the  Indians  that  remained  fell  all  into  the 
rear,  who  formerly  kept  the  van,  (being  possessed  with  great  fear;)  we  continued  our 


xii  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

march  till  about  one  hour  in  the  night  :  and  coming  to  a  little  swamp  between  two  hills, 
we  pitched  our  little  camp  ;  much  wearied  with  hard  travel,  keeping  great  silence,  sup- 
posing \ve  were  very  near  the  fort,  as  our  Indians  informed  us,  which  proved  otherwise. 
The  rocks  were  our  pillows  ;  yet  rest  was  pleasant.  The  night  proved  comfortable,  being 
clear  and  moonlight.  We  appointed  our  guards,  and  placed  our  sentinels  at  some  dis- 
tance, who  heard  the  enemy  singing  at  the  fort,  who  continued  their  strain  till  midnight, 
with  great  exulting  and  rejoicing  as  we  were  afterwards  informed.  They,  seeing  our 
pinnaces  sail  by  them  some  days  before,  concluded  \ve  were  afraid  of  them,  and  durst  not 
come  near  them,  the  burthen  of  their  song  tending  to  that  purpose. 

In  the  morning  (Friday,  26th  of  May)  we  awaking  and  seeing  it  very  light,  supposing 
it  had  been  day,  and  so  we  might  have  lost  our  opportunity,  having  purposed  to  make 
our  assault  before  day,  roused  the  men  with  all  expedition,  and  briefly  commended  our- 
selves and  design  to  God,  thinking  immediately  to  go  to  the  assault. 

The  Indians  showed  us  a  path,  and  told  us  that  it  led  directly  to  the  fort.  We  held 
on  our  march  about  two  miles,  wondering  that  we  came  not  to  the  fort,  and  fearing  we 
might  be  deluded  ;  but  seeing  corn  newly  planted  at  the  foot  of  a  great  hill,  supposing  the 
fort  was  not  far  off,  a  champion  country  being  round  about  us  ;  then  making  a  stand, 
gave  the  word  for  some  of  the  Indians  to  come  up  ;  at  length  Onkos  and  one  Wequash* 
appeared.  We  demanded  of  them,  Where  was  the  fort  !  They  answered,  On  the  top  of 
that  hill.  Then  we  demanded,1  Where  were  the  rest  of  the  Indians.  They  answered, 
Behind,  exceedingly  afraid.  We  wished  them  to  tell  the  rest  of  their  fellows  that  they 
should  by  no  means  fly,  but  stand  at  what  distance  they  pleased,  and  see  whether  English- 
men would  now  fight  or  not.  Then  Captain  Underliill  came  up,  who  marched  in  the 
rear  ;  and  commending  ourselves  to  God,  we  divided  our  men,  there  being  two  entrances 
in  the  fort,  intending  to  enter  both  at  once. — Captain  Mason  leading  up  to  that  on  the 
northeast  side,  who  approached  within  one  rod,  heard  a  dog  bark  ;  and  an  Indian  cry 
Owanux !  Oiuamix .'  which  is  Englishmen!  Englishmen!  We  called  up  our  forces 
with  all  expedition,  gave  fire  upon  them  through  the  pallisado,  the  Indians  being  in  a  dead, 
indeed  their  last  sleep.  Then  we  wheeling  off,  fell  upon  the  main  entrance,  which  was 
blocked  up  with  bushes  about  breast  high,  over  which  the  Captain  passed,  intending  to 
make  good  the  entrance,  encouraging  the  rest  to  follow.  Lieutenant  Seely  endeavored 
to  enter,  but  being  somewhat  cumbered,  stepped  back  &  pulled  out  the  bushes,  &  so 
entered,  &  with  him  about  sixteen  men.  We  had  formerly  concluded  to  destroy  them  by 
the  sword,  &  save  the  plunder. 

Whereupon  Capt.  Mason,  seeing  no  Indians,  entered  a  wigwam,  where  he  was  beset 
with  many  Indians,  waiting  all  opportunities  to  lay  hands  on  him,  but  could  not  prevail. 
At  length  William  Hey  den,  espying  the  breach  in  the  wigwam,  supposing  some  English 
might  be  there,  entered  ;  but  in  his  entrance  fell  over  a  dead  Indian  ;  but  speedily  recover- 
ing himself,  the  Indians  some  fled,  others  crept  under  their  beds.  The  Captain  going  out 
of  the  wigwam,  saw  many  Indians  in  the  lane  or  street  ;  he  making  towards  them  they 
fled,  were  pursued  to  the  end  of  the  lane,  where  they  were  met  by  Edward  Pattison 

*  Wequash  was  a  Neantic. Sagamore,  who  revolted  from  the  Pequots.  He  was  greatly  affected 
by  the  remarkable  victory  of  the  English  over  them.  "So  great  was  his  conviction  of  the  power 
&  glory  of  tlie  God  of  the  Englishman,  that  he  went  about  the  colony  of  Connecticut  after  the  war, 
with  bitter  lamentations  that  he  did  not  know  Jesus  Christ,  until  the  good  people  instructed  him, 
when  he  became  an  earnest  convert  to  Christianity.''  He  was  supposed  to  have  been  poisoned  by 
those  Indians,  who  hated  him  for  having  embraced  Christianity. — Mather's  Magnalia. 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER  xiii 

6r»  Thomas  Barber,  with  some  others,  where  seven  of  them  were  slain,  as  they  said.  The 
Captain  facing  about,  marched  a  slow  pace  up  the  lane  ;  he  came  down,  perceiving  him- 
self very  much  out  of  breath,  and  coming  to  the  other  end,  near  the  place  where  he  first 
entered,  saw  two  soldiers  standing  close  to  the  palisado,  with  their  swords  pointed  to  the 
ground  ;  the  Captain  told  them  that  we  should  never  kill  them  after  this  manner.  The 
Captain  also  said,  We  must  burn  them,  and  immediately  stepping  into  the  wigwam,  where 
he  had  been  before,  brought  out  a  fire  brand,  and  putting  it  into  the  mats  with 
which  they  were  covered,  set  the  wigwams  on  fire.  Lieutenant  Thomas  Bull  and 
Nicholas  Olmsted  beholding  came  up  ;  and  when  it  was  thoroughly  kindled,  the  Indians 
ran  as  men  most  dreadfully  amazed.  And  indeed  such  a  dreadful  terror  did  the  Almighty 
let  fall  upon  their  spirits,  that  they  would  fly  from  us  and  run  into  the  very  flames,  where 
many  of  them  perished.  And  when  the  fort  was  thoroughly  fired,  command  was  given 
that  all  should  fall  off  and  surround  the  fort  ;  which  was  readily  attended  by  all,  only  one 
Arthur  Smith,  being  so  wounded  that  he  could  not  move  out  of  the  place,  who  was 
happily  espied  by  Lieutenant  Bull,  and  by  him  rescued.  The  fire  was  kinded  on  the 
northeast  side  to  the  windward;  which  did  swiftly  overrun  the  fort,  to  the  extreme  amaze- 
ment of  the  enemy,  and  great  rejoicing  of  ourselves.  Some  of  them  climbing  to  the  top 
of  the  palisado  ;  others  of  them  running  into  the  very  flames  ;  many  of  them  gathering  to 
the  windward  lay  pelting  at  us  with  their  arrows  ;  and  we  repaid  them  with  our  small 
shot:  others  of  the  stoutest  issued  forth,  as  we  did  guess,  to  the  number  of  forty,  who 
perished  by  the  sword.  .  .  .  What  I  have  formerly  said,  is  according  to  my  own 
knowledge,  there  being  sufficient  living  testimony  to  every  particular.  But  in  reference 
to  Capt.  Underbill  and  his  partie's  acting  in  this  assault,  I  can  only  intimate  as  we  are 
informed  by  some  of  themselves  immediately  after  the  fight,  that  they  marched  up  to  the 
entrance  on  the  southwest  side  ;  there  they  made  some  pause  ;  a  valiant,  resolute  gentle- 
man, one  Mr.  Hedge,  stepping  towards  the  gate  saying,  'If  we  may  not  enter,  wherefore 
came  we  here  ?  '  and  immediately  endeavored  to  enter  ;  but  was  opposed  by  a  sturdy- 
Indian,  which  did  impede  his  entrance  ;  but  the  Indian  being  slain  by  himself  and  Sergeant 
Davis,  Mr.  Hedge  entered  the  fort  with  some  others  ;  but  the  fort  being  on  fire,  the  smoke 
and  flames  were  so  violent  that  they  were  constrained  to  desert  the  fort.  .  .  .  Thus 
were  they  now  at  their  wit's  end,  who  not  many  hours  before  exalted  themselves  in  their 
great  pride,  threatening  and  resolving  the  utter  ruin  and  destruction  of  all  the  English, 
exulting  and  rejoicing  with  songs  and  dances  :  but  God  was  above  them,  who  laughed 
his  enemies  and  the  enemies  of  his  people  to  scorn,  making  them  as  a  fiery  oven." 
"  Thus  were  the  stout-hearted  spoiled,  having  slept  their  last  sleep,  and  none  of  their 
men  could  find  their  hands.  Thus  did  the  Lord  judge  among  the  heathen,  filling  the 
place  with  dead  bodies  !  And  here  we  may  see  the  just  judgment  of  God  in  sending  even 
the  very  night  before  the  assault,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  from  the  other  fort,  to  join 
with  them  of  that  place,  who  were  designed,  as  some  of  themselves  reported,  to  go  forth 
against  the  English  at  that  very  instant  when  this  heavy  stroke  came  upon  them,  to  where 
they  perished  with  their  fellows.  So  that  the  mischief  they  intended  to  us,  came  upon 
their  own  pate.  They  were  taken  in  their  o\vn  snare,  and  we  through  mercy  escaped. 
And  thus  in  little  more  than  one  hours  space,  was  their  impregnable  fort  with  themselves 
destroyed,  to  the  number  of  six  or  seven  hundred,  as  some  of  themselves  confessed. 
There  were  only  seven  taken  captive,  and  about  seven  escaped.  Of  the  English  there  were 
two  slain  outright,  and  about  twenty  wounded  ;  some  fainted  by  reason  of  the  sharpness 
of  the  weather,  it  being  a  cool  morning,  and  the  want  of  such  comforts  and  necessaries  as 


XIV  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

are  needful  in  such  a  case  ;  especially  our  Chirurgeon  *  was  much  wanting,  whom  we  left 
with  our  barks  in  Narragansett  Bay,  who  had  orders  to  remain  until  the  night  before  our 
intended  assault.  And  thereupon  grew  many  difficulties  ;  our  provision  and  munition 
near  spent  ;  we  in  the  enemy's  country,  who  did  far  exceed  us  in  number,  being  much 
enraged,  all  our  Indians  except  Onkos  deserting  us  ;  our  pinnaces  at  a  great  distance 
from  us,  and  when  they  would  come  we  were  uncertain.  But  as  we  were  consulting  what 
course  to  take,  it  pleased  God  to  discover  our  vessel  to  us  before  a  fair  gale  of  wind,  sail- 
ing into  Peqiiot  Harbor  to  our  great  rejoicing. 

We  had  no  sooner  discovered  our  vessels,  but  immediately  came  up  the  enemy  from 
the  other  fort — three  hundred  or  more  as  we  conceived.  The  Captain  led  out  a  file  or 
two  of  men  to  skirmish  with  them,  chiefly  to  try  what  temper  they  were  of,  who  put  them 
to  a  stand  ;  we  being  much  encouraged  thereat,  presently  prepared  to  march  towards 
our  vessels.  Four  or  five  of  our  men  were  so  wounded  that  they  must  be  carried  in 
the  arms  of  twenty  more.  We  also  being  faint,  were  constrained  to  put  four  to  one  man, 
with  the  arms  of  the  rest  that  were  wounded  to  others  ;  so  that  we  had  but  forty  men  free. 
At  length  we  hired  several  Indians,  who  eased  us  of  that  burthen,  in  carrying  off  our 
wounded  men.  And  marching  one  quarter  of  a  mile,  the  enemy  coming  up  to  the  place 
where  the  fort  was,  and  beholding  what  was  done,  stamped  and  tore  the  hair  from  their 
heads  ;  and  after  a  little  space,  came  mounting  down  the  hill  upon  us,  in  a  full  career,  as  if 
they  would  over-run  us  :  but  when  they  came  within  shot,  the  rear  faced  about,  giving  fire 
upon  them  :  some  of  them  being  shot,  made  the  rest  more  wary;  yet  they  held  on  running  to 
and  fro,  and  shooting  their  arrows  at  random.  There  was  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  a  small 
brook,  where  we  rested  and  refreshed  ourselves,  having  by  that  time  taught  them  a  little 
more  manners  than  to  disturb  us.  We  then  marched  on  towards  Pequot  Harbor,  and  fall- 
ing upon  several  wigwams  burnt  them,  the  enemy  still  following  us  in  the  rear,  which 
was  to  the  windward,  though  to  little  purpose  ;  yet  some  of  them  lay  in  ambush,  behind 
rocks  and  trees,  often  shooting  at  us,  yet  through  mercy  touched  not  one  of  us  ;  and  as  we 
came  to  any  swamp  or  thicket,  we  made  some  shot  to  clear  the  passage.  Some  of  them 
fell  with  our  shot,  and  probably  more  might,  but  for  want  of  munition:  but  when  any  of 
them  fell,  our  Indians  would  give  a  great  shout,  and  then  they  would  take  so  much  courage 
as  to  fetch  their  heads.  And  thus  we  continued  until  we  came  within  two  miles  of  Pequot 
Harbor  ;  where  the  enemy  gathered  together  and  left  us,  we  marching  to  the  top  of  an  hill 
adjoining  the  harbor,  with  our  colors  flying,  having  left  our  drum  at  the  place  of  our 
rendezvous  the  night  before  ;  we  seeing  our  vessels  there  riding  at  anchor,  to  our  great 
rejoicing,  and  came  to  the  water  side  ;  we  sat  down  in  quiet. f 

Captain  Mason  sent  the  wounded  by  sea  to  Hartford  and  led  his  little 
army  and  Indian  allies  by  land  to  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  where  they  arrived 
on  Saturday  evening  about  sunset.  Here,  "  they  were  nobly  entertained 

*  Dr.  Thomas  Pell,  a  gentleman  of  good  family  from  London,  was  sent  from  the  fort  at  Say- 
brook,  as  surgeon  of  the  expedition.  He  afterward  settled  at  New  Haven,  from  whence  he 
removed  to  Fairfield,  and  afterwards  to  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  purchased  of  the  natives  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which  was  given  the  name  of  Pellham. — Styles'  History  of  Windsor,  p.  38. 

Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's  Hist,  of  New  York  T.  171,  257,  381.  Bolton's  Hist,  of  Westchester. 
Dr.  Pell's  will  was  probated  at  Fairfield,  and  some  reliable  documents  in  regard  to  his  nephew  John 
Pell  of  London,  are  on  file  there. 

f  Mason's  Hist.  Pequot  War. 


INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTER  XV 

by  Lieut.  Lion  Gardiner  with  many  great  guns."  They  remained  over 
Sunday  at  the  fort,  spending  the  day  in  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  their 
great  and  wonderful  deliverance  from  their  savage  foe.  Continuing  in 
Mason's  words : 

"And  when  we  had  taken  order  for  the  safe  conduct  of  the  Narragansett  Indians,  we 
repaired  to  the  place  of  our  abode;  where  we  were  entertained  with  great  triumph  and 
rejoicing,  and  praising  God  for  his  goodness  to  us,  in  succeeding  our  weak  endeavors,  in 
crowning  us  with  success,  and  restoring  of  us  with  so  little  loss.  Thus  was  God  seen  in 
the  Mount,  crushing  his  proud  enemies,  and  the  enemies  of  his  people  :  they  who  were 
erewhile  a  terror  to  all  that  were  round  about  them,  who  resolved  to  destroy  all  the 
English,  and  to  root  their  very  name  out  of  this  country,  should  by  such  weak  means,  even 
seventy -seven,  there  being  no  more  at  the  fort,  bring  the  mischief  they  plotted,  and  the 
violence  they  offered  and  exercised,  upon  their  own  heads  in  a  moment,  burning  them  up 
in  the  fire  of  his  wrath. 

Our  commons  were  very  short,  there  being  a  general  scarcity  throughout  the 
Colony  of  all  sorts  of  provisions,  it  being  upon  our  first  arrival  at  the  place.  We  had  but 
one  pint  of  strong  liqitor  among  us  in  our  whole  march,  but  what  the  wilderness 
afforded,  (the  bottle  of  liquor  being  in  my  hand,)  and  when  it  was  empty  the  very  smelling 
to  the  bottle  would  presently  recover  such  as  had  fainted  away,  which  happened  by  the 
extremity  of  the  heat. 

I  still  remember  a  speech  of  Mr.  Hooker,  at  our  going  abroad,  that  they  should  be 
bread  for  us. 

I  shall  mention  two  or  three  special  providences  that  God  was  pleased  to  vouchsafe 
to  particular  men,  viz.  two  men,  beingone  man's  servants,  namely  yoJin  Dier  and  Thomas 
Stiles,  were  both  of  them  shot  in  the  knots  of  their  handkerchiefs,  being  about  their  necks, 
and  received  no  hurt.  Lieutenant  Seeley  was  shot  in  the  eyebrow  with  a  flat  headed 
arrow,  the  point  turning  downwards;  I  pulled  it  out  myself.  Lieutenant  Bull  had  an 
arrow  shot  into  a  hard  piece  of  cheese,  having  no  other  defence  ;  which  may  verify  the 
old  saying,  'A  little  armor  would  serve  if  a  man  knew  where  to  place  it.'  Many  such  provi- 
dences happened  ;  some  respecting  myself,  but  since  there  is  none  that  witness  to  them, 
I  shall  forbear  to  mention  them.  As  Captain  Mason  entered  the  wigwam  from  which  he 
seized  a  burning  firebrand  to  fire  the  fort,  an  Indian  drew  an  arrow  to  its  very  head, 
which  would  have  killed  him  had  not  one  of  his  sergeants  cut  the  bow  just  in  time  to  save 
him."* 

This  remarkable  undertaking  scarcely  has  a  parallel  in  history.  "  Never," 
says  Palfrey,  "was  a  war  so  just  or  so  necessary;"  and  certainly  never  a 
victory  more  signal  or  more  wonderful.  For  a  mere  handful  of  men  to 
attack  so  powerful  a  foe  in  a  strange  country,  surrounded  on  all  sides  with 
hundreds  of  Indians,  seemed  presumption  itself.  But  our  forefathers  relied 
not  on  the  strength  of  their  own  arm  ;  their  trust  was  in  the  mighty  power 
of  the  Most  High  ;  and  His  providences  overshadowed  them  in  an  extra- 
ordinary manner. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Pequots  returned  to  the  fort  of  Sassacus,  and 
*  Hubbard's  Narrative  of  Indian  War,  p.  38. 


xvi  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

after  relating  the  story  of  their  defeat,  and  the  havoc  made  by  the  Eng- 
lish, they  charged  all  the  misfortunes  which  had  befallen  them  to  his 
haughtiness  and  misconduct ;  and  threatened  him  with  immediate  death. 
His  friends  and  chief  counselors,  however,  interceded  for  him,  and  through 
their  entreaty  and  protection  his  life  was  spared.  They  revenged  them- 
selves upon  Uncas  and  his  followers,  by  killing  all  their  kinsmen  who 
remained  among  them,  except  seven.  The  latter  escaped  to  the  English. 
They  then  held  a  council  of  war,  and  regarding  their  situation  as  one  too 
hazardous  to  remain  where  they  were,  burned  their  wigwams,  destroyed 
their  fort,  and  in  bands  wandered  about  the  country.  About  forty  warriors 
with  a  large  number  of  women  and  children  moved  a  short  distance  west- 
ward, where  they  took  refuge  in  a  swamp.  Sassacus  and  Mononotto,  with 
the  greater  part  of  their  Sagamores,  moved  further  westward.  Upon  reach- 
ing the  Connecticut,  they  seized  three  men  in  a  boat,  whom  they  dis- 
patched with  savage  revenge. 

When  the  news  of  Mason's  victory  reached  Massachusetts,  the  Governor 
and  Council  decided  to  send  Captain  Israel  Stoughton,  Captain  William 
Trask  and  Lieutenant  Richard  Davenport  with  one  hundred  and  sixty 
men,*  to  assist  Captain  Mason  in  conquering  the  Pequots,  even  to  the 
destruction  of  their  name.  .  .  .  Like  the  Israelites  of  old,  they  deemed 
it  an  act  of  Christian  justice  to  exterminate  these  "  heathen  Amalekites." 

On  the  2d  of  June  the  General  Court  met  again  at  Hartford.  An  order 
was  issued  that  thirty  men  should  be  sent  out  of  the  "  several  plantations 
in  this  river  Connecticut,  to  set  down  in  the  Pequoitt  Country  &  River  in 
place  convenient  to  mainteine  or  right  yl  God  by  Conquest  hath  given  to 
us;  &  Leiftennt  Seely  shall  have  the  Comande  of  them.  " 

Governor  John  Haynes,  who  had  joined  the  Hartford  settlement  during 
the  previous  summer,  and  Roger  Ludlow  were  appointed  to  go  down  to 
the  fort  at  Seabrook,  "  to  treat  &  Conclude  with  their  friends  of  the  Bay 
about  prosecuting  the  war  against  the  Pequots, — &  to  parley  with  the  Bay 
about  setlinge  downe  in  the  Pequoett  Country." 

Captain  Stoughton's  party,  with  the  famous  Rev.  John  Wilson  as  chap- 
lain, arrived  at  Pequot  Harbor  the  latter  part  of  June.  Here  Captain 
Stoughton  was  guided  to  a  large  swamp  by  some  of  the  Narragansetts, 
where  they  surrounded  the  band  before  mentioned,  who  there  had  sought 
refuge  and  took  about  eighty  captives.  Thirty  men  out  of  this  number 
were  killed. f  Two  Sachems  and  the  women  and  children  were  saved. 

*  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.  I.,  192. 

f  Cotton  Mather  states  "  that  at  one  time  some  hundreds  of  them  were  seized  by  Captain 
Stoughton  with  little  opposition,  who  sending  away  the  females  &  children  as  captives,  put  the 


INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTER  XVli 

The  Sachems  were  spared,  upon  promising  that  they  would  conduct 
Stoughton  to  Sassacus,  the  women  and  children  numbering  about  eighty, 
thirty  of  whom  were  given  to  the  Narragansetts  and  three  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Indians.  The  remainder  were  sent  to  Massachusetts  for  slaves. 
About  this  time  Captain  Stoughton  and  his  men  effected  a  junction 
with  Captain  Mason's  army,  who  were  accompanied  by  Roger  Ludlow, 
and  several  of  the  principal  gentlemen  from  the  river  settlements.  After 
a  council  of  war,  it  was  decided  to  pursue  the  Pequots.  The  captured 
Sachems  refused  to  tell  where  they  could  be  found,  and  in  consequence 
were  beheaded  at  a  place  near  Guilford,  afterwards  called  Sachem's  head. 
The  vessels  carrying  provisions,  etc.,  sailed  along  the  shore,  while  the 
troops  marched  by  land,  followed  by  Uncas  and  his  men,  who  kept  close 
on  the  trail  of  the  flying  Pequots,  expecting  to  join  the  English  in  over- 
taking them.  In  three  days  the  army  reached  Qunnipiack  (New  Haven), 
where  they  saw  a  great  smoke  in  the  woods.  Supposing  the  enemy  near 
at  hand,  they,  without  delay,  marched  upon  them,  but  soon  learned  that 
the  fire  had  been  kindled  by  the  inhabitants.  The  troops  now  embarked 
on  board  their  vessels,  and  spent  several  days  at  Qunnipiack.  Here  a 
Moheagan,  named  Jack  Eto\v,  captured  two  Pequots  in  a  forest,  whom  he 
carried  prisoners  on  board  the  English  vessel.  They  had  loitered  behind 
their  clan,  and  to  escape  observation  had  taken  refuge  in  a  tree.  Life  was 
granted  to  one  of  them,  if  he  would  search  out  Sassacus,  and  kill  him  or 
take  him  prisoner.  The  treacherous  savage  set  out  on  his  mission,  and, 
joining  his  countrymen,  for  several  days  sought  an  opportunity  to  slay 
his  chief.  He  was,  however,  soon  suspected  of  his  design,  and  fled  to  the 
English  by  night.  He  informed  Captain  Mason  of  the  number  of  Pequots 
with  Sassacus  and  Mononotto,  and  that  they  were  secreted  in  a  swamp  to 
the  westward. 

.    The  army  were  at  once   set   in   motion,  and   marched  with  all  possible 
speed  to  the  place  designated. 

"As  the  Souldiers  were  uppon  their  march,  close  by  a  great  thicket,  where  no  eye 
could  penetrate  farre,  as  it  often  falls  out  in  such  wearisom  waves,  where  neither  men 
nor  beast  have  beaten  out  a  path ;  some  Souldiers  lingering  behinde  their  fellowes,  two 
Indians  watching  their  opportunity,  much  like  a  hungry  hauke,  when  they  supposed  the 
last  man  was  come  up,  who  kept  a  double  double  double  distance  in  his  march,  they 
sudden  &  swiftly  snatched  him  up  in  their  tallens,  hoisting  him  upon  their  shoulders,  ran 
into  the  swamp  with  him;  the  Souldier  unwilling  to  be  made  a  Pope  by  being  borne  on 
mens  shoulders,  strove  with  them  all  he  could  to  free  himselfe  from  their  hands;  but, 

men  on  board  a  vessel  of  one  Skipper  Gallop,  which  proved  a  Charons  ferry-boat  unto  them,  for  it 
was  found  the  quickest  way  to  feed  the  fishes  with  'em."     Magnalia,  I.,  B.  VII.,  483.     Hubbard's 
Indian  Wars,  p.  35. 
B 


XV111  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

like  a  carefull  Commander,  one  Captaine  Davenport,  then  Lieutenant  of  this  company, 
being  diligent  in  his  place  to  bring  up  the  reare,  coming  up  with  them,  followed  with 
speed  into  the  swamp  after  him,  having  a  very  severe  cutlace  tyed  to  his  wrist,  &  being 
well  able  to  make  it  bite  sore  when  he  set  it  on,  rezolving  to  make  it  fall  foul  on  the 
Indians  bones,  he  soone  overtook  them,  but  was  prevented  by  the  buckler  they  held  up 
from  killing  them,  which  was  the  man  they  had  taken;  It  was  a  matter  of  much  wonder 
to  see  with  what  dexterity  they  hurled  the  poore  Souldier  about,  as  if  they  had  been  hand- 
ling a  Lacedaemonian  shield,  so  that  the  nimble  Captaine  Davenport  could  not  of  a  long 
time,  fasten  one  stroke  upon  them;  yet,  at  last,  dying  their  tawny  skin  into  a  crimson 
colour,  they  cast  downe  their  prey,  &  hasted  thorovv  the  thickets  for  their  lives.  The 
Souldier  thus  redeemed,  had  no  such  hard  usage,  but  that  he  is  alive,  as  I  suppose,  at 
this  very  day."  * 

After  marching  about  twenty-five  miles  near  the  coast,  through  Cup- 
head,  Pequonnock,  and  Uncoway,  they  came  upon  the  swamp  at  Sasqua 
(now  called  Southport),  in  which  the  Pequots  were  secreted.  This  swamp 
of  water,  bogs  and  mire,  thickly  wooded  with  a  dense  undergrowth,  entirely 
surrounded  a  cone-shaped  hill,  about  thirty  feet  in  height.  It  was  almost 
impossible  for  a  stranger  to  enter  it,  without  sinking  above  the  knees  in  mire. 
The  English  troops  drawn  up  in  the  regular  order  of  their  companies,  made 
an  attack.  The  Indians,  in  the  meantime,  skulked  up  and  down  shooting 
their  arrows  from  behind  the  trees,  and  then  suddenly  dropped  flat  in  the 
water,  to  defend  themselves  from  the  retaliation  of  the  soldiers'  muskets. 
Lieutenant  Davenport  encouraged  his  men  to  follow  him  into  the  swamp, 
where  he  was  sorely  wounded,  and  both  he  and  his  men  sank  so  deep  in 
the  mire,  that  but  for  the  timely  assistance  of  their  friends,  they  would 
all  have  been  killed.  Several  Indians  were  slain  in  the  encounter.  Find- 
ing they  could  not  capture  the  enemy  in  this  way,  the  English  decided  to 
surround  the  swamp.  After  some  time  spent  in  skirmishing,  the  native 
Indians  desired  a  parley.  Meanwhile,  an  Indian  had  been  seen  to  enter 
the  thicket  with  a  brass  kettle  on  his  back,  which  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  there  must  be  some  place  of  firm  land  in  the  centre  of  the  swamp. 

At  the  first  approach  of  the  English,  the  Sachems  and  Indians  of  the 
country  had  fled  with  dismay  into  the  swamp;  but  as  they  had  done  the 
English  no  harm,  the  parley  was  granted.  The  officers  were  also  anxious 
to  save  the  old  men,  women  and  children.  Thomas  Stanton,  a  man  familiar 
with  the  Indian  language,  was  sent  in  to  treat  with  them.  He  was 
instructed  to  offer  life  and  protection  to  all  Indians  who  had  not  shed  Eng- 
lish blood.  "  The  native  Sachems,  followed  by  companies  of  warriors,  aged 
men,  women  and  children,  came  out  in  numbers  of  about  two  hundred." 
The  chief  Sachem  declared  that  neither  he  nor  his  people  had  done  the 

*  Johnson's  Wonderworking  Providence.      Mass.  Hist.  Col.      Vol.  IV    §  2.  pp.  50-61. 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER  xix 

English  any  harm,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  make  peace  with  them.  The 
haughty  Pequots,  however,  disdained  all  overtures  of  peace,  exclaiming: 
"We  will  fight  it  out  to  the  last !  "  Stanton  barely  escaped  with  his  life  in 
leaving  the  swamp,  and  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  fly  to  his  rescue.  The 
fight  was  now  renewed,  but  on  account  of  some  misunderstanding  among 
the  officers,  several  of  the  Pequots  escaped.  "  Some  were  for  forcing  the 
swamp  immediately,  but  this  was  opposed  as  too  dangerous.  Others  were 
for  cutting  it  down,  as  they  had  taken  many  hatchets,  with  which  they 
were  of  the  opinion  it  might  be  effected.  Some  others  were  for  making  a 
palisade  and  hedge  round  it,  but  neither  of  these  measures  could  be 
adopted."  As  night  approached,  it  was  agreed  to  lessen  the  circle  around 
the  swamp,  which  was  almost  divided  in  two  parts  at  one  point,  by  cutting 
down  the  trees  and  undergrowth.  This  being  done,  sentinels  were  stationed 
at  a  distance  of  twelve  feet  apart.  Thus  they  entirely  encircled  the  swamp, 
and  watched  the  enemy  through  the  night.  During  the  night  the  Pequots* 
crept  near  the  guards  and  discharged  their  arrows  at  them,  but  not  one 
was  slain.  From  the  dead  bodies  found  the  next  day,  it  wras  shown  that  the 
English  musketry  had  made  severe  havoc  among  the  enemy."  Just  before 
dawn  a  dense  fog  fell  over  the  place,  and  seizing  this  favorable  opportunity 
for  escape,  the  Indians,  with  hideous  yells,  first  attacked  Captain  Patrick's 
quarters,  but  they  were  severely  driven  back  by  Captain  Mason  sending 
timely  aid.  Captain  Trask  also  marched  quickly  to  the  scene  of  action, 
followed  by  Captain  Mason,  upon  whom  the  Indians  now  directed  their 
full  strength.  Mason,  however,  gave  them  such  a  warm  reception  that 
they  were  glad  to  retire.  They  then  rushed  once  more  upon  Captain 
Patrick's  quarters,  when  about  sixty  or  seventy  of  their  bravest  warriors 
broke  through  his  line  and  escaped,  several  of  whom  were  found  slain  the 
next  day,  by  those  who  pursued  them  as  far  as  Fairfield.  About  twenty 
others  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  taken  prisoners.  Hatch- 
ets, wampum,  kettles,  trays,  and  other  Indian  utensils  were  taken. 

Sassacus  who  had  been  alarmed  by  the  escape  of  the  spy  sent  to  slay 
or  take  him  prisoner,  fearing  to  fall  into  the  power  of  the  English  before 
the  battle  took  place,  set  out  for  the  country  of  the  Mohawks.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Mononotto  and  twenty  or  more  of  his  bravest  warriors. 
He  no  doubt  feared  his  own  men,  who  had  already  threatened  his  life  at 
their  defeat  at  Groten.  He  carried  with  him  about  five  hundred  pounds 
of  wampum.  The  women  who  had  been  taken  captives,  stated  that  about 
seven  hundred  Indians  and  thirteen  Sachems  had  been  slain  during  the 
war  ;  and  that  thirteen  Sachems  were  still  living.  Sassacus  and  his  warriors 
were  surprised  by  the  Mohawks,  and  all  slain  but  Mononotto  who  escaped. 


XX  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD 

It  was  reported  that  the  Mohawks  were  bribed  by  the  Narragansetts  to 
commit  this  act.  In  the  month  of  October  following,  the  Mohawks  sent 
the  scalps  of  Sassacus,  one  of  his  brothers,  and  five  others  of  the  murdered 
Sachems,  as  trophies  to  Hartford.  Soon  after  Roger  Ludlow  and  other 
gentlemen,  carried  a  lock  of  Sassacus'  hair  to  Boston,  "  as  a  rare  sight,  & 
a  sure  demonstration  of  the  death  of  their  mortal  enemy." 

Among  the  women  taken  captive  in  the  swamp  was  the  wife  of  Mono- 
notto.  Her  modesty,  kindliness  of  temper,  and  good  sense,  particularly 
attracted  the  English.  She  made  but  two  requests,  which  were  that 
her  chastity  and  children  might  be  spared.  These  requests  were  granted, 
particularly,  as  it  had  been  through  her  instrumentality  that  the  lives 
of  the  two  young  girls,  who  had  been  stolen  from  Weathersfield  had 
been  spared.  She  was  specially  recommended  to  the  kindness  of  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts,  who  gave  her  and  her  children  every  care  and 
' 'protection*  The  captives  and  the  booty  taken,  were  divided  among  the 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  troops.  A  number  of  those  carried  to 
Massachusetts  were  sold  as  slaves  in  the  West  Indies,  where  they  dragged 
out  an  unhappy  but  brief  existence.  Those  who  remained  as  slaves  in  the 
colonies  proved  restless,  and  soon  escaped  from  their  servitude. f 

Upon  the  return  of  the  victorious  army,  joy  unspeakable  reigned  in 
the  English  colonies.  A  day  of  public  thanksgiving  was  appointed  in 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut.  The  planters  now  went  forth 
to  their  labor  in  the  field  without  fear  of  the  Indians  ;  and  the  mothers 
with  animated  fervor,  fearlessly  sang  Puritan  hymns  by  the  cradles  of  their 
children. 

The  drain  of  men  from  the  plantations  to  carry  on  this  war,  and  a 
great  scarcity  of  articles  of  food  and  clothing,  made  the  winter,  which  was 
unusually  severe,  one  of  great  privations  to  the  colonists.  Money  also  was 
very  scarce.  That  their  condition  might  not  be  known  to  the  Indians,  as 
well  as  to  prevent  them  from  taking  advantage  of  their  situation  by  rais- 
ing the  price  of  corn,  the  General  Court  met  at  Hartford  on  the  gth  of 
February,  1638,  and  passed  a  resolution,  "  that  no  person  in  the  river  plan- 
tations or  at  Agawam,  should  go  up  the  river  to  trade  with  the  Indians  for 
corn,  cither  privately  or  publicly,  under  a  penalty  of  5s.  pr.  bushel,  without 
the  consent  of  the  Court." 

In  order  to  raise   means  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  war,  it  was  voted 

*  Mason's  Hist.,  Pequot  War.,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  Vol.  8,  S.  2,  146-151. 

f  One  of  the  Pequot  captives  was  owned  by  Samuel  Hall,  and  bound  to  Samuel  Gregory  of 
Fairfield  for  several  years.  He  was  given  his  freedom  on  the  2yth  of  October,  1691.  F.  T. 
Votes,  p.  21. 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER  XXI 

that  a  tax  of  six  hundred  pounds  should  be  levied,  to  defray  the  charges 
of  the  late  design  against  the  Pequots,  "  Agawam  £S6,  16%  Windsor 
£158,  2%  Hartford  £251,  2s-,  Weathersfield  £124.  The  payment  to  be 
made  in  money,  in  Wampum  at  fower  a  penny,  or  in  good  merchantable 
beaver  at  9s-  pr.  pounde."  Mr.  Clement  Chaplin  was  appointed  Treasurer. 
Mr.  William  Wadsvvorth  of  Hartford,  Henry  Wolcott,  sr.  of  Windsor, 
Andrew  Ward  of  Weathersfield,  and  John  Burr  of  Agawam,  were  made 
collectors  of  taxes  for  their  respective  plantations.  On  the  8th  of  March, 
committees,  afterwards  called  deputies,  were  elected  from  each  town  to 
assist  the  magistrates.  From  these  two  bodies,  originated  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives  of  Connecticut. 

At  the  same  time  Mr.  William  Pynchion  of  Springfield  was  appointed 
to  purchase  corn  of  the  Indians,  and  to  deliver  five  hundred  bushels  at 
Hartford,  at  5s-  a  bushel.  If  he  could  save  by  this  sale,  he  was  to  deliver 
the  proportion  of  Windsor  to  Mr.  Ludlow  at  5S-  2d-  a  bushel.  Weathers- 
field  was  to  be  supplied  from  Hartford.  The  price  set  to  pay  the  Indians 
was  4s  pr.  bushel,  "to  be  paid  in  wampum  at  3  a  penny,  or  merchantable 
beaver  at  X  •  a  pound." 

At  this  critical  crisis,  the  committee  were  sent  to  Pocomstock  or  Deer- 
field  to  purchase  corn.  The  Indians  came  down  the  river  in  fifty  canoes 
laden  with  corn  at  one  time.  This  was  considered  a  great  and  providential 
deliverance,  by  the  famished  colonists.  All  who  wished  to  purchase  corn, 
were  to  repair  to  the  magistrates  of  the  town  in  which  they  resided  for  a 
just  proportion.  Mr.  Ludlow  and  two  others  were  also  commissioned  to 
send  a  vessel  to  the  Narragansett  Indians  for  corn. 

A  stringent  law  was  passed  against  any  abuse  of  the  Indians.  Corselets 
and  arms  were  ordered  to  be  provided  within  six  months,  for  the  use  of  the 
army.  Captain  Mason  was  made  Major-General  of  the  militia  of  Con- 
necticut, with  a  stipend  of  forty  pounds  pr.  annum,  "  to  train  the  men  in 
each  plantation  ten  days  in  every  year,  soe  it  be  not  in  June  or  July." 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker  delivered  him  the  staff.  Every  male  from  the  age 
of  sixteen  was  ordered  to  bear  arms,  and  in  case  anyone  failed  to  be 
present  at  the  public  trainings  he  was  to  pay  a  fine  of  3s .  Each  plantation 
was  required  to  be  supplied  with  a  magazine  of  powder  and  shot ;  and 
every  military  man  to  have  continually  in  his  house  "half  a  pound  of 
powder,  two  pounds  of  bullets  suitable  to  his  piece,  &  one  pound  of 
match,  if  his  piece  be  a  match-lock,"  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings. 

For  the  public  service  done  by  Thomas  Stanton  in  behalf  of  the 
colony,  he  was  awarded  ten  pounds.  He  was  also  appointed  to  attend  all 
the  Courts  as  interpreter  between  the  English  and  the  Indians,  with  a 


xxii  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

salary  of  ten  pounds  pr.  annum.  The  Court  also  passed  a  law,  "  that  when 
a  company  of  Indians  set  down  near  an  English  plantation,  they  should 
declare  who  their  chief  Sachem  was,  &  that  said  Sachem  should  pay  for  all 
damages  done  by  his  men." 

Scarcely  had  a  month  passed  after  the  close  of  the  war,  before  serious 
trouble  arose  between  the  magistrates  of  Massachusetts  and  Ninigret, 
chief  Sachem  of  the  Nehantics,  on  account  of  his  harboring  the  Pequots. 
Uncas,  elated  with  his  triumph  over  Sassacus  and  Mononotto,  now  consid- 
ered himself  at  the  head  of  the  Pequot  tribe,  and  willing  to  increase  the 
number  of  his  men,  had  also  received  several  of  the  wandering  tribe. 
The  Narragansetts,  who  had  conceived  a  bitter  hatred  towards  him  since 
the  war,  reported  his  course  to  the  English,  which  was  most  unfavorable 
for  him. 

In  order  to  appease  the  English,  Uncas  with  thirty-seven  of  his  war- 
riors, made  a  visit  to  Boston  in  July.  He  presented  the  governor  with 
twenty  fathoms  of  wampum,  which  was  refused  until  he  made  satisfaction 
for  receiving  the  Pequots.  With  apparent  grief  and  many  apologies  he 
denied  the  charge.  His  present  then  being  received,  he  took  courage  and 
placing  his  hand  upon  his  heart  he  thus  addressed  the  governor :  "  This 
heart  is  not  mine:  it  is  yours.  Command  me  any  hard  thing,  &  I  will  do 
it.  I  will  never  believe  any  Indian's  word  against  the  English.  If  any 
Indian  shall  kill  an  Englishman,  I  will  put  him  to  death,  be  he  ever  so  dear 
to  me." 

This  promise  was  faithfully  kept.  Uncas  remained  a  loyal  friend  to 
the  English,  who  often  protected  his  life  and  that  of  his  men,  at  great  sac- 
rifice. 

The  few  surviving  Pequots  became  a  prey  to  all  the  other  Indian 
tribes,  who  prided  themselves  in  presenting  the  English  with  as  many  of 
their  heads,  as  they  could  either  by  violence  or  stratagem  secure.  At 
last  they  applied  to  the  General  Court  for  protection. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Court  held  at  Hartford  on  the  2 1st  of  Sep- 
tember, the  remnant  of  this  once  powerful  tribe,  which  had  been  reduced 
to  about  two  hundred,  were  divided  among  their  enemies  as  follows : 
eighty  to  Miantonimo,  twenty  to  Ninigret,  and  the  other  hundred  to 
Uncas,  to  be  received  and  treated  as  their  men.  Peace  was  established 
between  Miantonimo  and  Uncas.  It  was  also  stipulated  if  trouble  should 
arise  in  the  future  between  them  that  they  should  immediately  appeal  to 
the  English  for  justice.  The  Mohegans  and  Narragansetts  promised  not 
to  conceal  or  entertain  enemies  of  the  English.  The  Pequots  were  never 
to  return  to  their  own  country  without  the  consent  of  the  English,  to  whom 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER  xxiii 

they  were  also  to  pay  "  a  tribute  annually  of  a  fathom  of  wampumpeag  for 
every  man,  half  a  fathom  for  every  young  man,  &  a  hand's  length  for  every 
male  papoose." 

The  consummation  of  this  treaty  gave  great  joy  to  the  colonists.  The 
churches  throughout  all  New  England  kept  a  public  day  of  thanksgiving 
for  the  mercies  vouchsafed  them.  "  Devout  &  animated  praises  were 
addressed  to  him,  who  giveth  his  people  the  victory,  &  causeth  them  to 
dwell  safely." 

Having  enacted  the  above  laws  for  the  protection  of  the  settlements, 
the  General  Court  assembled  at  Hartford  on  the  I4th  of  January,  for  the 
purpose  of  preparing  a  constitution  for  the  government  of  the  colony  of 
Connecticut.  The  commission  granted  by  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts to  Roger  Ludlow  and  his  constituents,  covered  only  the  space  of 
one  year.  The  remoteness  of  the  new  colony  from  Massachusetts,  and  the 
fact  of  its  being  beyond  the  limits  of  that  colony,  made  it  extremely  incon- 
venient to  act  in  co-operation  with  its  government;  besides,  Ludlow  and 
his  associates,  when  they  left  Massachusetts,  probably  had  no  idea  of  con- 
tinuing under  that  jurisdiction.  At  the  close  of  the  first  year,  a  renewal 
of  the  commission  was  not  solicited  ;  and  upon  the  Connecticut  patentees 
abandoning  the  scheme  of  colonizing  their  patent  territories,  the  planters 
of  the  river  settlements  formed  themselves,  by  a  voluntary  compact,  into 
a  distinct  commonwealth.  With  sober  thought  and  prayerful  considera- 
tion, they  deliberated  and  prepared  a  constitution,  which  afterwards  was 
destined  to  form  the  basis  of  all  the  constitutions  of  our  great  republic. 

"  The  men  who  formed  this  constitution,  deserve  to  be  held  in  everlasting  remem- 
brance. They  were  not  ignorant,  or  rash,  or  timid  men.  They  were  Ludlow  &  Haynes, 
&  Wolcott  &  Hopkins  &  Hooker,  £  others  of  kindred  spirits  ;  men  of  clear  minds  & 
good  hearts  ;  men  who  in  their  views  of  civil  &  religious  liberty  were  far  in  advance  of 
their  age,  &  who  under  the  guidance  of  a  kind  Providence,  introduced  a  form  of  govern- 
ment, which,  for  two  centuries,  has  secured  to  the  people  of  this  state,  a  measure  of  peace 
&  liberty,  of  order  &  happiness  not  surpassed  by  any  other  people  on  earth.  I  say 
emphatically, /0r  two  centuries.  For  the  charter  obtained  from  Charles  II.  in  1662,  did 
little  more  than  assume  &  ratify  the  constitution  of  1639  ^  'e^  'ts  great  principal  unal- 
tered ;  &  Connecticut  was  still  a  republic  in  everything  but  a  name.  The  Constitution  of 
1818  is  altogether  conformable,  in  its  principles,  to  the  compact  entered  into  by  our 
fathers,  differing  from  it  chiefly  in  its  adaptedness  to  a  more  numerous  population,  &  to 
the  interests  of  a  more  widely  extended  £  complicated  state  of  society." 

It  was  purely  republican  in  its  tenor,  and  is  the  crowning  glory  of  the 
forefathers  of  Connecticut.  It  acknowledged  no  king  but  God  ;  no  law 
but  the  divine  law  ;  no  priest  but  our  Great  High  Priest  Jesus  Christ.  It 
gave  liberty  to  every  man,  and  the  right  of  a  freeman  to  all  well  disposed 


Xxiv  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

moral  citizens.  Even  the  humblest  toiler  among  them  saw  how,  with  that 
sturdy  ambition,  which  has  always  characterized  the  people  of  Connecti- 
cut, he  could  rise  to  the  highest  place  of  state.  It  maintained  the  Congre- 
gational form  of  worship,  which  they  conceived  to  be  the  one  most  in 
accordance  with  the  church  established  by  Christ  and  his  apostles.  An 
oath  for  the  governor  and  deputy  governor,  the  magistrates  and  constables 
was  also  provided.  On  the  nth  of  April  the  freemen  from  all  the  towns 
met  at  Hartford,  and  under  the  Constitution  they  had  adopted,  proceeded 
to  elect  the  following  officers : 

John  Haynes— governor.  Roger  Ludlow— deputy  governor. 

Assistant  Magistrates. 
Roger    Ludlow,     Edward    Hopkins,     Thomas    Wells,    John   Webster,     William    Phelps, 

George  Wyllys. 

Committees  or  Deputies. 

John  Steele,  Mr.  Spencer,  John  Pratt,  Edward  Stehbins,  Mr.  Gaylord,  Henry  Wolcott, 
Mr.  Stoughton,  Mr.  Ford,  Thurston  Raynor,  James  Boosy,  George  Hubbard  &  Richard 
Crab. 

Under  the  wise  government  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitution,  the 
colony  continued  to  flourish  in  a  remarkable  manner.  The  liberality  of  the 
first  statute  in  the  code,  which  set  out  a  declaration  or  bill  of  rights  to  each 
freeman,  invited  many  to  settle  in  Connecticut.  By  its  provision,  all  men 
of  good  moral  character  and  industrious  habits,  were  admitted  to  the  rights 
of  freemen.  The  severe  law  of  Massachusetts,  which  allowed  the  civil 
franchise  only  to  communicants  of  the  Congregational  Church,  deprived 
many  conscientious  persons  of  that  privilege ;  consequently  when  Con- 
necticut offered  the  only  true  and  wise  platform,  whereby  men  should  be 
made  freemen,  every  man  felt  that  his  own  moral  course  made  him  indeed 
a  freeman — free  in  that  sense  which  develops  his  moral  nature  through  his 
own  independent  will,  governed  by  love  of  Christian  principle.  The  mild 
character  of  the  policy  and  government  of  Connecticut  through  the  early 
history  of  her  legislation,  forms  a  striking  contrast  to  the  policy  of  Massa- 
chusetts— hence  the  constitution  of  Connecticut,  which  was  framed  at  "  a 
period  when  the  light  of  liberty  was  wholly  darkened  in  most  parts  of  the 
earth,  &  the  rights  of  men  so  little  understood,  in  others,  does  great  honor 
to  the  liberality,  wisdom  &  far  seeing  policy  of  our  venerable  ancestors." 
It  became  as  a  vine  planted  in  the  wilderness,  healthfully  and  religiously 
husbanded,  a  flourishing  tree,  its  branches  offering  a  shelter  and  an  abiding 
place  to  the  weary  and  oppressed,  the  grief-stricken,  the  sin-stricken,  the 
humble  toiler  for  the  rights  of  manhood,  and  the  Christian  minister  and 
soldier;  all  of  whom  sat  down  under  its  shadow,  happy  in  the  rights  of 
freemen. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I 

1639-1650 

DISCOVERY    AND    SETTLEMENT 

Discovery  of  Uncoway. — Its  natural  advantages  — Roger  Ludlow's  commission  to  settle 
Pequonnock. — Indians  of  the  country. — First  purchase  of  Indian  lands. — Character  of 
the  country. — Samp-mortar  Rock. — Pequot  Swamp. — Named  Fairfield. — Ludlow's  com- 
panions.— First  five  home  lots. — Ludlow  fined. — His  apology. — Settlements  of  Stamford 
and  New  Haven. — Fear  of  an  English  governor. — Connecticut  patent. — Indian  purchases 
and  privileges. — Laws. — Constables. — State  archives. — Courts. — Ludlow  lays  out  the 
town. — Additional  planters. — Ludlow  purchases  Norwalk. — Spring  of  1640. — Ludlow  a 
judge  of  the  General  Court. — Colony  prison. — Mere-stones. — Tobacco. — First  town  and 
school-house. — Planters  of  1640. — Home  Industry. — Improvements  of  lands. — Trade. — 
Pipe-staves. — Fencing. — Hides. — Flax. — Pequonnock  bounds. — Uncoway  Indian  tribute. 
—  Sumptuary  laws. — Imports  and  exports. — Shipping. — Truthfulness. — Trouble  with  the 
Dutch. — Creditors  and  Debtors. — Ludlow  deputy-governor. — Indian  troubles. — Militia 
called  out. — Condition  of  the  planters  in  1642. — Assistants  and  Deputies  of  1643. — 
Arms  forbidden  the  Indians. — Jurors. — Confederation  of  the  colonies. — Grand-jurors. — 
Marriages. — Plantations  guarded  — Governor  Stuyvesant. — Indians  rise  at  Stamford. — 
General  fast  proclaimed. — Fairfield  Indians  troublesome. — Ludlow's  prompt  action. — 
General  combination  of  the  Indians. — General  Court  laws  for  town  courts,  merchandise, 
liquors,  inns,  land,  fences,  town  clerks,  and  trade  with  the  Indians. — Mills. — Long 
Island  Indians. — Bequest  of  William  Frost  to  Christ's  Church. — Maintenance  of  ministers 
and  students  at  Harvard  College. — Herdsmen. — Marks  of  private  cattle,  etc. — Magistrates 
and  Deputies  of  1645. — Training  days. — Colony  fair. — General  tax  for  purchasing  Say- 
brook  fort. — War  between  Uncas  and  the  Narragansetts. — War  declared  against  the 
Narragansetts. — Peace  established  in  August. — Assistants  and  Deputies  of  1645. — Jury 
trials. — Criminals  not  allowed  to  vote. — Governor  Haynes  to  visit  the  Indian  reservations. 
— Dutch  and  Indian  troubles. — Tobacco. — Guards  for  the  Sabbath  and  lecture  days  at 
Fairfield. — Seaside  annual  tax  —Whaling. — Magistrates  and  Deputies  of  1648  — Salary  of 
governor  and  deputy-governor. — Bankside  farmers. — Stratford  ferry. — Uncoway  Creek 
mill. — Military  laws. — Indians  of  Stamford. — Uncas  sent  to  Stamford.  —  Thomas  Newton 
leaves  Fairfield. — Connecticut  patent. — Cambridge  platform. — Death  of  Charles  I I 


xxvi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    II 

1650-1660 

WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF    WARS 

Original  plats  of  Fairfield  and  Pequonnock. — Planters  and  heads  of  families. — Assistant  and 
deputies  of  1650. — General  laws. — Election  sermons. — Ludlow  a  commissioner. — Witch- 
craft.— Trial  and  execution  of  Good  wife  Knap. — War  between  England  and  Holland  — 
Trouble  with  Indians. — Dutch  vessel  seized. — Supposed  plot  of  the  Dutch  and  Indians. — 
Fears  of  a  general  massacre. — Preparations  for  war. — England  sends  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion.— Ludlow  chief  military  officer. — Pirates. — Commissioners  at  Boston. — Agents  sent 
to  England  for  assistance. — Preparations  at  New  Amsterdam. — Severity  of  colonial  laws. 
— Invitation  to  Charles  II.  to  come  to  America. — Oliver  Cromwell  Lord  Protector  of 
England — John  Underbill.  —Two  Dutch  war  vessels  enter  Black  Rock  harbor. — Death 
of  Governor  Haynes. — A  fast. — Fairfield  declares  war  against  the  Dutch. — Ludlow  leaves 
the  country. — His  detention  by  New  Haven.- — Sails  for  Virginia. — English  fleet  arrives  at 
Boston. — Peace  proclaimed  between  England  and  Holland. — War  declared  against  the 
Indians. — Six  men  to  join  the  army  from  Fairfield. — General  training  day. — List  of 
estates. — General  Thanksgiving. — Major  Willard's  course. — Peqnots  awarded  land. — 
Care  of  arms  and  ammunition. — Trouble  with  the  Indians. — Pits  for  wolves. — Military 
laws  for  Indians. — Games — Lotteries. — Town  limits  extended. — Efforts  to  pacify 
Indians. — General  fast.  —  Great  mortality. — Probate  Judges. — Colony  tax. — Custom-house 
duties. — Temperance  laws. — Commissioners  — Law  for  magistrates. — Thanksgiving 64 


CHAPTER    III 

1660-1670 

PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Prosperity  of  Fairfield. — Military  laws. — Change  in  the  Constitution  for  the  election  of 
governors.  —  Pequonnock  Indians. — First  cavalry  force  of  Fairfield. — Thanksgiving. — 
Patent  desired. — Affairs  in  England.  — Fairfield's  acknowledged  allegiance  to  Charles  II. 
—  Annual  tax. — Sasqua  lands. — Rate  of  dividend.  —Town  officers.  —  James  Beers. — Free- 
men.—  Indian  deed  of  Sasqua. — Assistants  and  deputies  of  1661. — Norwalk  and  Strat- 
ford bounds. — Schools. — Efforts  to  obtain  a  charter. — Tax. — Wolves. — Leather  sealers. — 
Assistants  and  deputies  of  1662. — Corn  and  tobacco. — Cavalry  drill. — Fence  committee. — 
Richard  Ogden's  mill. — The  charter. — Stamford. — Captain  John  Youngs. — Salary  of 
troopers. — Free  trade. — Burning  fields. — Trouble  with  New  Haven. — John  Adams. — 
Assistants  and  deputies  of  1663. — Particular  Courts  at  Fairfield. — Boundary. — Watch- 
men.— Indians  forbidden  to  enter  towns  at  night. — New  Haven  and  New  Amsterdam. — 
Rights  of  town  officers.  —  Henry  Rowland,  tavern  keeper. — Thomas  Pell's  purchase  of 
Westchcstcr,  etc. — Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York. — Captain  John  Scott. — Public  fast. — 
Fleet  from  England  to  reduce  the  Dutch.  —  Surrender  of  the  Dutch. — Ecclesiastical 
liberties. — Union  with  New  Haven  colony. — War  between  England  and  Holland. — 
Pounds — Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman.  — List  of  estates. — Superior  Courts  at  Hartford. — The 
King  favors  Connecticut.  — Bankside  farmers  — Fairfield  county. — Property  taken  for 


CONTENTS  xxvii 

debts. — Bears. — Fairfield  to  prepare  troops,  militia  and  vessels  for  the  war. — Peace 
between  England,  France  and  Holland. — Public  thanksgiving. — Strangers  not  to  live  in 
Fairfield. — Town  notes. — County  prisons. — Grant  of  land  to  Major  Nathan  Gold. — 
County  troops. — Ecclesiastical  assembly  and  committee. — Assistants  and  deputies  of 
1669. — Riding  pace. — Lawful  measures 102 


CHAPTER    IV 
1670-1680 

AN    INTERESTING   DECADE 

Social  customs. — Assistant  and  deputies  of  1670. — New  Milford. — Sheep  raising. — Weights 
and  measures. — Minister  at  Rye. — Church  and  School  lands. — Richard  Osborn. — East 
and  west  dividends. — Assistant  and  deputies  of  1672. — Rye  and  Norwalk  committees  — 
John  Wheeler's  grant. — War  between  England  and  Holland. — Nathan  Gold  commander- 
in-chief  of  Fairfield  county. — Colony  laws. — Grant  of  lands  to  Jehu  Burr  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Wakeman.  —  Published  laws. — Postal  route. — News  of  the  English  capture  of 
New  Amsterdam. — Action  of  the  General  Assembly.-— Contemplated  reduction  of  the 
Dutch. — Weapons  of  warfare. — Town  improvements. — Prizes  taken  by  the  Dutch. — War 
tax. — Vigilance  of  Fairfield. — Peace  between  England  and  Holland. — Rev.  Eliphalet 
Jones  sent  to  Rye. — General  training  at  Fairfield. — Overland  mail  between  New  York 
and  Boston. — The  Duke  of  York  claims  all  Connecticut. — Governor  Andros  in  New 
York. — General  fast  in  Connecticut  — Indian  outrages. — Troops  disbanded. — Acts  for 
religious  duties  in  families. — To  Christianize  the  Indians'  marriages. — Sabbaths 144 


CHAPTER   V 

1680-1690 

THE    DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION 

Claim  of  John  Wampus. — First  prison  on  Meeting-house  green. — Magistrates  of  1680 — Trade 
and  Navigation. — Indian  troubles.— Fairfield  troops. — Bedford. — Edward  Randolph, 
deputy  for  New  England. — Henry  Wakeley. — Branding. — Ship  building. — Purchase  of 
Old  Indian  Field. — Court  of  admiralty. — Fairfield  estates. — Meeting-house  repairs. — 
Military  colors. — Blight  of  crops,  and  great  sickness. — Sign  post. — Non-residents  — 
Pirates. — Silver  coins. — Connecticut  boundary-line. — Major  Gold  sent  to  New  York. — 
Danbury. — Death  of  Charles  II. — James  II.  proclaimed  King. — Fairfield  patent. — Royal 
letters. — Writs  of  Quo  Warranto.— Edward  Randolph. — Highway  across  Golden-hill. — 
Petition  to  the  King. — Governor  Dongan. — Sir  Edmund  Andros. — Boundary  between 
Fairfield  and  Norwalk. — Nathan  Gold,  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  disfranchised. — Wil- 
liam Whiting. — Danbury  made  a  town. — Governor  Andros  assumes  command  of  Con- 
necticut.— The  Charter  Oak. — Governor  Andros' Council. — John  Perry,  postman. — French 
and  Indians. — Major  Gold  and  Jehu  Burr  reinstated. — Oppressive  laws  of  Andros. — 
Andros'  proclamation. — Rev.  Increase  Mather. — Abdication  of  James  II. — William  and 


xxviii  CONTENTS 

Mary. — Andros  imprisoned. — Connecticut  magistrates  restored  to  office. — William  and 
Mary  proclaimed  in  New  England  towns. — Address  to  the  King  and  Queen. — Major  Gold 
ambassador  to  New  York. — Connecticut  troops  sent  to  New  York. — French  and  Indian 
depredations. — Rev.  Increase  Mather's  success  in  England. — Preparation  for  war  with  the 
Canadians  and  Indians.  .  210 


CHAPTER   VI 

1690-1700 

CHURCHES,  SCHOOLS,  GOVERNMENT 

Prosperity  of  the  town. — French  and  Indian  war. — Loss  at  Schenectady. — Military  rule. — 
Fairfield  troops  at  Albany. — Military  tax. — Matthew  Sherwood,  captain  of  dragoons. — 
John  Burr,  captain  of  militia. — Embargo  on  grain  and  provisions. — Agent  to  England. — 
First  colonial  congress  in  America  — Magistrates  of  1690. — Expedition  against  Quebec. — 
Tyranny  of  Leisler. — Friendship  of  the  Mohawks. — Fugitive  slaves. — Fairfield  village 
and  school. — Salt  manufactories. — Connecticut  charter. — Latin  schools. — Fairfield  village 
church  and  members.— Rev.  Charles  Chauncy. — Death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman. — Rev. 
Joseph  Webb,  third  pastor  of  Christ's  church. — Graver's  hill. — Town  acts. — Witchcraft. 
— Men  and  Indians  sent  to  defend  Maine  and  Massachusetts. — Military  claims  of  Col. 
Fletcher. — Major  Winthrop  sent  to  England. — Fairfield  taxed. — Fairfield  village  and 
parish. — Postal  laws. — Powder  money. — Agents  sent  to  the  Five  Nations. — Death  of 
Queen  Mary. — Parish  records  of  Fairfield  and  church  covenant. — Piracy  and  Captain 
Kidd. — Value  of  Silver. — Maintenance  for  ministers. — Expedition  to  New  Foundland. — 
The  Earl  of  Bellomont. — County  courts. — Epidemic  of  if>o,8. — The  king's  highway  and 
postal  routes. — College  in  Connecticut. — Magistrates  of  1699. — Counterfeiting. — Laws  for 
Fairfield  village. — Official  fees. — Preservation  of  forests. — Founders  of  Yale  college 255 


o  n  o'     2  f>  I-  a.  77  &    J"  o 


A   MAP    OF    EARLY    FAIRFIELD. 


HISTORY  OF  FAIRFIELD 

CHAPTER  I 
1639—1650 

DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT 

Discovery  of  Uncoway. — Its  natural  advantages. — Roger  Ludlow's  commission  to  settle  Pequon- 
nock. — Indians  of  the  country. — First  purchase  of  Indian  lands. — Character  of  the  country. — 
Samp-mortar  Rock. — Pequot  Swamp. — Named  Fairfield. — Ludlow's  companions. — First  five 
home  lots. — Ludlow  fined. — His  apology. — Settlements  of  Stamford  and  New  Haven. — 
Fear  of  an  English  governor. — Connecticut  patent. — Indian  purchases  and  privileges. — Laws. 
— Constables. — State  archives. — Courts. — Ludlow  lays  out  the  town. — Additional  planters. — 
Ludlow  purchases  Norwalk. — Spring  of  1640. — Ludlow  a  judge  of  the  General  Court. — 
Colony  prison. — Mere-stones. — Tobacco. — First  town  and  school-house. — Planters  of  1640. — 
Home  industry. — Improvement  of  lands. — Trade. — Pipe-staves. — Fencing. — Hides. — Flax. 
— Pequonnock  bounds. — Uncoway  Indian  tribute. — Sumptuary  laws. — Imports  and  exports. — 
Shipping. — Truthfulness. — Trouble  with  the  Dutch. — Creditors  and  debtors. — Ludlow 
deputy-governor. — Indian  troubles. — Militia  called  out. — Condition  of  the  planters  in  1642. 
— Assistants  and  Deputies  of  1643. — Arms  forbidden  the  Indians.— Jurors. — Confederation 
of  the  colonies. — Grand-jurors.— Marriages.— Plantations  guarded. — Governor  Stuyvesant. — 
Indians  rise  at  Stamford. — General  fast  proclaimed. — Fairfield  Indians  troublesome. — 
Ludlow's  prompt  action. — General  combination  of  the  Indians. — General  Court  laws  for 
town  courts,  merchandise,  liquors,  inns,  land,  fences,  town  clerks,  and  trade  with  the  Indians. 
— Mills. — Long  Island  Indians  — Bequest  of  William  Frost  to  Christ's  Church. — Maintenance 
of  ministers  and  students  at  Harvard  College. — Herdsmen. — Marks  of  private  cattle,  etc. — 
Magistrates  and  Deputies  of  1645. — Training  days. — Colony  fair. — General  tax  for  pur- 
chasing Saybrook  fort. — War  between  Uncas  and  the  Narragansetts. — War  declared  against 
the  Narragansetts. — Peace  established  in  August. — Assistants  and  Deputies  of  1645. — 
Jury  trials. — Criminals  not  allowed  to  vote. — Governor  Haynes  to  visit  the  Indian  reservations. 
— Dutch  and  Indian  troubles. — Tobacco. — Guards  for  the  Sabbath  and  lecture  days  at 
Fairfield. — Seaside  annual  tax. — Whaling. — Magistrates  and  Deputies  of  1648. — Salary  of 
governor  and  deputy-governor. — Bankside  farmers. — Stratford  ferry — Uncoway  Creek  mill. — 
Military  laws. — Indians  of  Stamford. — Uncas  sent  to  Stamford.  —  Thomas  Newton  leaves 
Fairfield. — Connecticut  patent. — Cambridge  platform. — Death  of  Charles  I. 

IN  the  subjugation  of  the  powerful  tribe  of  Indians  known  as  the 
Pequots,  in  the  great  fight  at  Sasqua  or  Pcquot-s\vamp,  the  pioneers  of 
Connecticut  achieved  an  important  victory,  one  which  in  its  results  has 
scarcely  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  warfare.  Peace  with  the  much-dreaded 
savages  who  roamed  at  will  about  the  feeble  settlements,  and  in  fact 
throughout  all  New  England,  was  thereby  secured.  Prosperity  followed 
quickly  after  days  of  great  adversity  ;  and  the  planters  found  themselves 
not  only  in  position  to  extend  their  own  borders,  but  to  enlarge  the  juris- 

I 


2  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

diction  of  the  colony  by  beginning  plantations  along  the  coast  of  Long 
Island  Sound. 

In  noting  the  many  providences  of  God  which  overshadowed  them 
during  this  war,  one  of  special  interest  to  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Fair- 
field,  was  the  discovery  of  the  fair  fields  of  Uncoway.*  For  want  of  pas- 
ture for  their  cattle,  good  land  for  cultivation,  and  a  bountiful  supply  of 
water,  many  of  the  planters  of  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  had  emigrated 
to  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut:  but  here  at  Uncoway  they  found  the 
long  sought  for  country,  beautiful  beyond  all  other  spots  which  they  had 
yet  discovered.  Here  were  meadow  lands  rich  with  the  deposits  of  ages; 
grand  old  forests  and  majestic  hills  overlooking  some  of  the  most  pictur- 
esque scenes  in  New  England.  Here,  too,  were  fresh  springs,  rivers, 
ponds  and  streamlets  of  pure  sweet  waters;  and  sweeping  as  far  as  the 
eye  could  reach  from  east  to  west  rolled  the  blue  waters  of  Long  Island 
Sound,  across  which,  against  the  southern  horizon,  lay  Sewanhacky,  the 
Island  of  Shells  or  Long  Island. 

To  return  to  this  beautiful  country,  and  to  rear  on  the  scene  of  the 
great  Pequot  victory  an  English  town,  became  the  aim  of  the  deputy- 
governor,  Roger  Ludlow.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  commission  from 
the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  to  begin  a  plantation  at  Pequonnock, 
during  the  summer  or  early  autumn  of  1639  ;  and  with  four  others  set  out 
on  his  journey  thither.  Upon  his  arrival  he  entered  into  a  treaty  with 
the  chief  sachems  of  Pequonnock,  of  whom  he  purchased  "  all  the  lands 
lying  west  of  the  Stratford  bounds  to  the  Sasqua  or  Mill  river,  and  from 
the  Mill  river  south-westward  to  the  east  bounds  of  the  Maxumux  Indian 
lands;  and  from  the  Sound,  seven  or  eight  miles  into  the  wilderness,"  all 
of  which  lands  were  claimed  by  the  Pequonnock  Indians. f 

The  Indians  of  this  region  were  no  doubt  glad  to  enter  into  a  friendly 
alliance  with  the  English,  whom,  since  their  remarkable  victory  over 
the  Pequots,  they  must  have  regarded  as  beings  endowed  with  super- 
natural power.  In  order  to  secure  protection  from  their  deadly  enemies 
the  Mohawks,  who  yearly  made  a  descent  upon  them  to  collect  a  tribute 
which  was  rigidly  exacted,  they  agreed  to  give  Governor  Ludlow  an 
annual  tribute  of  furs,  wampum  and  corn. 

*  In  the  town  records  the  Indian  name  of  Fairfield  is  almost  invariably  spelled  Uncoway  :  in 
the  colonial  Records  Uncoa  and  Uncowaye.  Unquowa,  while  a  more  modern  style  of  orthography, 
is  not  as  soft  in  its  pronounciation  as  that  of  Uncoa.  The  author  has  adopted  that  found  in  the 
Town  Records,  as  the  one  most  familiar  to  the  ear  of  the  early  settlers.  There  is  but  little  doubt, 
however,  that  the  accent  should  fall  on  the  second  syllable,  and  that  Unowa  and  Unr^waye  were 
accented  alike. 

f  Unfortunately,  the  deed  of  this  purchase  has  been  lost ;  but  is  happily  supplied  in  the  deed 
dated  20  March,  1656.  Letter  A,  Fairfield  Town  Deeds,  p.  437. 


1639]  DISCOVERY  AND   SETTLEMENT  3 

There  were  several  hundred  Indians  divided  into  clans  who  claimed 
the  lands  of  Pequonnock,  Uncoway  and  Sasqua.  The  Pequonnock 
Indians  appear  to  have  been  a  branch  of  the  Paugusetts,  living  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Housatonic,  and  the  Wepawags  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river.  They  were  at  one  time  supposed  to  be  two  distinct  tribes  ;  but  it 
has  been  decided  by  students  of  the  aborigines  of  Connecticut,  that  they 
were  one  and  the  same,  as  the  names  of  their  chief  sachems  are  found 
attached  to  deeds  of  lands,  both  of  Milford  and  Stratford.  The  territories 
of  this  clan  stretched  several  miles  along  the  coast  and  included  the  Nor- 
walke  Indians.  After  the  Indians  of  Pequonnock  made  a  formal  sale  of 
their  lands  to  Roger  Ludlow,  they  settled  upon  Golden  Hill — so  named 
from  the  mica  found  in  the  soil — and  were  ever  afterwards  called  the 
Golden  Hill  tribe. 

The  Uncoway  Indians  occupied  the  territory  lying  west  of  Pequon- 
nock, to  the  eastern  borders  of  Sasqua  or  Mill  river.  The  name  of  Sas- 
quannock  appears  to  have  been  applied  to  all  the  lands  lying  west  of  this 
river,  as  far  as  the  Sasco  river.  The  name  of  Munchunchoser  Sasqug  * 
appears  to  have  been  given  to  the  lands  and  small  islands  in  Pine 
creek  and  on  Sasco  hill,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  Mill  river  bordering 
the  Sound.  The  Maxumux  Indians  claimed  the  lands  west  of  the  small 
stream  called  Sasco  river,  about  a  mile  along  the  coast  to  the  Compang 
or  Compaw  lands,  and  extending  into  the  wilderness  to  the  borders  of  the 
Aspetuck  river.  The  Compangs  or  Compaws  occupied  the  land  west  of 
Maxumux  as  far  as  the  Saugatuck  river.  North  of  these,  scattered  along 
the  borders  of  the  Aspetuck  river,  lived  the  Aspetucks.f  The  sachem  of 
this  tribe  was  called  the  chief  sachem  of  Aspetuck  and  Sasquannock  or 
Sasquaugh. :}: 

The  principal  fort  of  the  Pequonnock  and  Uncoway  Indians  was  at 
the  head  of  the  stream  or  cove  which  runs  from  Black  Rock  harbor,  a  de- 
scription of  which,  and  the  number  of  Indians  living  in  it,  has  happily 
been  preserved  by  Thomas  Wheeler,  sr.,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  first 
settlers  at  Black  Rock.  It  is  as  follows : 

"Captain  Thomas  Wheeler  (the  first  settler  of  Black  creek  village  in  1640)  came  to 
Black  Rock,  and  at  the  old  lot  built  a  stone  house  with  a  flat  roof  of  plank,  on  which  he 

*  Will  of  William  Frost,  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  i.,  465.  Will  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  sr. ,  Fair- 
field  Probate  Records,  1648-56. 

There  seems  to  be  no  good  reason  for  this  name  being  attached  to  the  Maxumux  lands. 

f  The  Aspetuck  is  a  branch  of  the  Saugatuck,  and  forms  part  of  the  boundary  line  between 
Weston  and  Greenfield,  flows  through  Redding  and  has  its  source  in  Danbury. 

A  branch  of  the  Aspetuck  Indians  also  lived  on  the  borders  of  a  small  river  of  the  same  name 
at  New  Milford,  which  empties  into  the  Housatonic. 

J  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  iii.,  282. 


4  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

mounted  two  four  pounders,  one  pointed  towards  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  the  other  at  an 
Indian  fort  situated  at  the  head  of  the  harbor,  now  known  by  the  name  of  Old  Fort. 
This  place  the  Fairfield  Indians  had  built  for  their  defense  against  some  of  the  interior 
tribes  with  whom  they  were  perpetually  at  war.  It  was  composed  of  palisades  joined  to- 
gether, and  at  each  corner  a  room  was  built  out  with  port  holes.  It  contained  about  an 
acre  of  ground,  and  was  garrisoned  by  about  two  hundred  Indians." 

The  almost  impregnable,  natural  fortress  at  Pequot  swamp,  was  sur- 
rounded on  all  sides  by  a  wide  ditch  of  bogs  and  water,  thickly  grown 
trees  and  a  dense  under-growth  of  alder  and  birch. 

As  the  English  purchased  lands  of  the  Indians,  reservations  of  suffi- 
cient numbers  of  acres  for  their  use  were  set  apart  to  satisfy  them.  Besides 
the  Golden  Hill  reservation,  the  Uncoways  retained  several  acres  near  Old 
Fort,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Uncoway  river,  upon  which  they  lived  for 
many  years  after  the  town  was  settled.  They  also  reserved  a  number  of 
acres  of  samp-mortar  rock  and  mill  plain.  "  In  the  rich  valley  south  of 
the  rock  was  a  large  Indian  town  ;  and  at  the  very  foot  of  the  precipice 
there  appears  to  have  been  a  burying  ground."*  The  Sasqua  Indians 
reserved  lands  at  Sasco,  a  little  west  of  Pequot  swamp.  The  Maxumux 
Indian  reservation  lay  east  of  Frost  point  and  on  Clapboard  hill. 

The  tract  of  land  purchased  by  Roger  Ludlow  for  the  town  of  Fair- 
field  embraced  within  its  boundaries  the  Uncoway  and  Sasqua  rivers,  the 
fine  harbors  of  Pequonnock  and  Black  Rock,  and  a  good  harbor  at  Sasqua. 
The  Black  Rock  harbor  is  one  of  the  finest  on  the  New  England  coast, 
vessels  of  large  size  being  able  to  enter  at  any  time  of  the  tide.  The 

<4 

principal  islands  in  1639  were  Fairweather,  which  forms  the  east  chop  of 
Black  Rock  harbor,  and  Thompson's  island,  now  called  Penfield  reef,  and 
the  Fairfield  bar.  The  latter  island,  except  at  unusual  high  tides,  in  early 
days,  was  reached  from  the  main  land  by  a  small  strip  of  land.  It  is  de- 
scribed by  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  intelligent  gentlemen  of  Fairfield 
as  having  been  an  island  about  a  mile  or  more  in  length  and  covered  with 
meadows,  upon  which  cattle  grazed  and  a  few  trees  and  berries  were 
found. f  There  was  also  Flat  and  several  small  inland  islands,  particularly 
in  Sasco  neck,  now  called  Pine  creek. 

*  Gazetteer  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  by  John  E.  Pease  and  John  M.  Niles,  p.  171. 

f  Testimony  of  Capt.  Anson  Bibbins,  Mrs.  Abram  Benson  and  Mr.,  Edmund  Hobart,  of 
Fairfield. 

The  east  end  of  this  island  was  protected  from  the  action  of  the  waves  and  storms  by  a  high, 
strong  breastwork  of  rocks  and  cobble-stones.  Several  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  town, 
vessels  from  Boston,  New  York  and  other  places  carried  away  cargoes  of  these  cobble-stones  for 
paving  purposes,  until  the  town  passed  a  vote  prohibiting  their  removal.  Meanwhile,  the  loss  of 
those  already  carried  away  caused  the  waves  and  tides  to  sweep  over  the  island,  washing  away  the 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  5 

The  surface  of  the  country  on  the  Sound,  while  moderately  even,  grad- 
ually rises  in  a  succession  of  fine  rolling  hills  and  gentle  declivities.  Large 
quantities  of  peat  were  found  by  the  early  settlers  in  the  swamps,  of 
which  they  made  considerable  use  for  fuel.  By  many  it  was  thought  val- 
uable for  manure,  which,  when  laid  upon  the  ground  in  heaps,  soon  crum- 
bled and  improved  fields  under  cultivation.  The  sea-weed  of  the  Sound 
also  proved  a  valuable  fertilizer. 

The  soil, .which  is  mainly  of  gravelly  loam,  is  described  in  the  early 
history  of  the  settlement  as  generally  rich  and  very  productive.  There 
are  also  sections  of  primitive  argillaceous  loam  and  some  tracts  of  allu- 
vial soil.  No  minerals  of  value  exist.  A  copper  mine  is  mentioned  in 
the  will  of  Lieutenant  Richard  Hubbell  of  Stratfield,  as  situated  "  a  little 
above  ye  Pine  swamp  at  ye  upper  end  of  Stratfield  bounds."*  At  Pequon- 
nock  and  at  Greenfield  there  are  quarries  of  freestone.  A  whetstone 
quarry  is  mentioned  in  the  early  records  of  the  town.  The  most  impor- 
tant one,  however,  is  the  Bluestone  Hill  quarry,  about  a  mile  north  of 
Greenfield  centre,  which  the  first  settlers  used  for  grave-stones  and  build- 
ing purposes. 

Fine  oaks  of  all  kinds  abounded  in  early  days,  as  well  as  chestnut, 
hickory,  cherry,  several  kinds  of  maples,  beech,  birch,  white  and  red  ash, 
elm,  butternut,  white  wood,  buttonwood,  basswood,  poplar,  sassafras, 
hemlock,  spruce,  cedar  and  pine.  The  white  wood,  notable  for  its  height 
and  magnitude,  made  excellent  boards  and  clapboards.  Beech  trees  of 
considerable  height  extended  along  the  beach  from  the  Uncoway  river  to 
Kenzie's  point,  the  roots  of  which,  with  those  of  the  beach-grass,  formed 
a  strong  breastwork  against  the  encroachment  of  the  tides  and  storms. 
Noble  pines  covered  the  islands  of  Pine  creek,  from  which  it  derived  its 
name. 

Wild  fruits  were  abundant,  and  a  great  variety  of  wild  flowers  of  ex- 
quisite texture  and  tints  adorned  the  woods,  meadows  and  hill-sides.  The 
Sound  furnished  some  of  the  most  exquisite  sea-mosses  to  be  found  on  the 
New  England  coast.  The  deer,  bear,  wolf,  fox,  otter,  mink,  muskrat,  and 
an  endless  number  of  squirrels  afforded  furs  valuable  for  barter.  Wild 
cats,  bears,  wolves  and  other  ferocious  animals  were  discovered  in  large 
numbers  at  "  Devil's-den,"  which  took  its  name  from  that  fact.  A  descrip- 

sand  and  soil,  and  making  anew  current  for  the  tide,  which  rushed  between  the  Cows  and  Penfield 
reef  with  great  force,  throwing,  in  high  winds  and  storms,  rocks,  stones,  sand  and  gravel  from  the 
east  and  west — forming  in  the  course  of  time  the  natural  causeway,  upon  the  south-east  end  of 
which  the  government  has  erected  a  light-house.  Edmund  Hobart  states  that  many  of  the  stones 
on  this  causeway  have  been  thrown  up  in  cakes  of  ice  in  the  winter  by  the  wind  and  waves." 
*  Fairneld  Probate  Records,  1734. 


6  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

tion  of  the  sources  of  wealth  at  Fairfield  in  those  days  is  given  in  William 
Wheeler's  journal.  "  Land  was  cheap  and  produced  large  crops.  Labor 
was  cheap — there  were  many  Indians  who  would  work  for  small  wages.  In 
those  golden  times  there  was  plenty  of  game — ducks  of  which  there  were 
twenty  species  of  black  ducks  and  broadbills,  hundreds  if  not  thousands  in 
a  flock,  which  were  very  tame — wild  geese  very  fat  in  large  numbers  but 
more  shy.  Pigeons  in  Autumn  so  wonderfully  plenty  that  forty  dozen 
have  been  caught  in  a  net  in  one  morning  at  one  spot.  Black  Rock  beach 
was  the  place  to  take  them,  where  the  pigeon  houses  were  situated  at  short 
distances  apart.  Pigeons  flew  so  thick  one  year  that  at  noon,  it  is  said,  the 
sun  could  not  be  seen  for  two  hours — prodigious  numbers  were  seen — being 
tired  alighting  in  the  sound,  and  perishing  in  the  water.  The  waters 
brought  forth  abundantly  'various  kinds  of  fish — shad  in  prodigious  quan- 
tities, but  bass  were  the  fish  they  caught  most  plentifully,  taking  in  at 
Black  Rock  sixty  or  eighty  in  a  night ;  occasionally  some  of  them  weighing 
as  heavy  as  twenty-eight  pounds.  Clams,  oysters  and  escallops  more  than 
could  be  eaten/  Eels  and  smelt  swarmed  in  the  waters.  White-fish  were 
so  plentiful  that  they  were  drawn  in  by  nets,  and  distributed  for  manure 
upon  the  lands.  Beside  these,  lobsters,  crabs,  mussels  and  other  inferior 
shell-fish  were  found  in  great  quantities.  The  fresh  water  streams  afforded 
trout,  lamper-eels  and  turtles  of  considerable  size.  Occasionally  whales 
made  their  appearance  in  the  Sound  ;  and  the  porpoise  was  a  frequent 
spectacle,  measuring  his  length  in  the  air  and  then  disappearing  beneath 
the  waters." 

Among  the  natural  curiosities  of  the  town  is  a  spot  called  samp-mortar 
rock.  This  rock  forms  a  distinct  feature  in  the  geographical  history  of 
Fairfield.  It  occupies  a  central  position  on  the  west  side  of  Mill  river, 
about  two  miles  from  the  Sound,  between  Fairfield  and  Greenfield.  Ledge 
upon  ledge  of  huge  rocks  project  from  the  side  of  a  hill,  forming  a  preci- 
pice of  about  eighty  feet  in  height.  A  granitic  ridge  runs  northerly  for 
some  distance.  A  gradual  and  easy  ascent  leads  to  the  summit  of  the  hill, 
upon  which  is  to  be  found  a  large  flat  rock,  on  which  patches  of  lichens 
and  mosses  abound  ;  and  in  which,  almost  on  the  very  brink  of  this  preci- 
pice, is  a  round  opening  in  the  form  of  a  mortar,  capable  of  holding  about 
half  a  bushel  of  corn.  At  a  convenient  distance  is  an  indenture  which 
the  Indians  are  said  to  have  used  for  a  seat  while  pulverizing  corn  in  the 
mortar;  and  just  below  it  is  another  smaller  indenture  for  supporting  the 
feet.  This  novel  corn  mill  gave  the  name  of  samp-mortar  to  the  place. 

For  many  years  tourists  believed  that  this  excavation  was  a  work  of 
art  hewn  out  by  the  Indians  ;  but  as  in  many  of  the  rocks  beneath  it  are 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  7 

found  like  holes  of  smaller  size,  modern  scientists  are  induced  to  believe  it 
the  result  of  the  action  of  water  at  some  glacial  period.  Calm  reasoning, 
however,  naturally  inclines  to  the  hypothesis,  that  whatever  effect  the 
floods  of  time  produced,  the  Indians  had  much  to  do  with  the  depth  and 
size  of  this  mortar  ;  and  that  if  "  the  constant  dropping  of  water  will  wear 
away  a  stone,"  certainly  the  action  of  an  Indian  chisel  or  stone  hatchet 
against  stone,  will  in  a  much  shorter  time  make  like  progress.  It  has  been 
remarked  that  "  this  mortar,  which  may  be  considered  as  a  primitive  grain- 
mill,  is  not  more  important  as  a  monument  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants 
than  as  an  illustration  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  arts.  It  was  a 
great  improvement  upon  the  more  simple  and  rude  method  of  pulverizing 
corn  which  preceded  it — that  of  pounding  the  kernels  between  two  stones. 
To  such  rude  and  simple  discoveries  as  this,  can  the  most  noble  and  useful 
inventions  in  the  arts  be  traced."  ' 

Pequot  swamp  was  until  1835  another  natural  curiosity  of  the  town. 
It  was  so  named  from  the  famous  swamp  fight  between  the  New  England- 
ers  and  the  Pequots,  which  will  ever  make  it  remarkable  in  the  annals  of 
local  history.  The  rise  of  ground  in  its  centre,  which  had  the  appearance 
of  an  artificial  mound,  was  a  natural  hill.  For  a  long  time  it  was  supposed 
to  be  the  work  of  the  Indians,  and  filled  with  their  graves;  but  when 
Pequot  Avenue  was  opened  in  1835,  it  became  necessary  to  make  a  passage 
through  it.  This  was  done  by  tunneling  through  the  centre,  as  the  ground 
above  was  frozen  hard.  Most  of  the  men  of  the  place  were  sea  captains, 
who  employed  their  leisure  hours  in  the  winter  in  making  this  excavation. 
They  found  but  one  Indian  skeleton,  and  to  their  surprise  discovered,  by 
the  different  strata  of  earth,  that  the  supposed  mound  was  a  natural  hill,  f  • 
The  open  hill  for  many  years  formed  walls  on  either  side  of  the  road,  which 
are  now  leveled,  so  that  only  a  faint  vestige  of  the  hill  is  to  be  seen.  This 
historic  swamp  lies  northwest  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Hon.  Jonathan 
Godfrey,  of  Southport,  and  only  a  few  rods  west  of  the  New  York, 
New  Haven  and  Hartford  Railroad,  which  crosses  Pequot  Avenue. 

Supplied  with  everything  which  opens  avenues  of  comfort  and  wealth, 
the  pioneers  of  Uncoway  could  scarcely  fail  to  look  forward  with  happy 
anticipations  for  the  prosperity  of  their  town.  Others  were  soon  induced 
to  join  them  from  Massachusetts  and  the  Connecticut  river  settlements. 

*  Gazetteer  of  Connecticut,  p.  171. 

f  Testimony  of  Messrs.  Jonathan  Godfrey,  Francis  D.  Perry,  and  Paul  Sheffield  of  Southport, 
who  witnessed  the  excavation.  This  highway,  which  was  also  the  old  stage-road  from  the  village 
to  the  King's  highway,  is  the  only  street  which  rightly  should  bear  the  name  of  Pequot  Avenue  ; 
but  by  some  singular  misunderstanding  the  name  has  been  attached  lo  one  of  the  main  streets  of 
Southport. 


8  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

The  Indian  name  of  Uncoway,  signifying^  further,  gave  place  to  that  of 
Fairfield,  which  was  happily  applied  to  the  fair  fields  and  rich  meadows 
of  the  town. 

Unfortunately,  Fairfield,  like  Windsor  and  the  other  early  settlements, 
was  not  supplied  with  proper  record  books  until  1648,  at  which  date  the 
town  and  probate  records  still  extant  commenced.  The  statement  that 
Roger  Ludlow  carried  away  the  early  town  records  was  a  traditional  one, 
and  without  foundation.  The  town  and  probate  records,  which  began  in 
1648,  were  continued  without  interruption  for  many  years  after  he  left  the 
country.  He  was  not  the  town  clerk  when  he  left  Fairfield.  That  office 
was  occupied  by  William  Hill,  jr.  More  than  a  hundred  years  after  Roger 
Ludlow  left  America,  Letter  A  of  Town  Deeds  was  missing,  and  not 
found  until  within  the  present  century,  when  it  was  restored  to  its  place  in 
the  record  office.  It  contains  over  six  hundred  pages  of  fine  and  close 
writing  in  the  English  court  hand.  The  volume  is  now  over  two  hundred 
years  old,  and  this  and  the  probate  records  and  Letter  B  of  Town  Votes 
are  the  oldest  relics  of  the  pen  tracings  and  autographs  of  our  fore- 
fathers. The  first  notice  of  the  recovery  of  this  volume  is  due  to  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Davis  of  Green's  Farms,  who  refers  to  it  in  his  admirable  bi-cen- 
tennial  address  delivered  at  Green's  Farms,  March  29,  1839.* 

The  work  which  the  pioneers  of  Connecticut  accomplished  within  the 
space  of  four  years  was  wonderful.  They  had  but  little  time  for  aught 
beyond  the  protection  of  their  homes  and  firesides,  and  the  labor  neces- 
sary for  the  well-being  of  the  colony.  All  documents  of  value  were  by 
an  order  of  the  General  Court  recorded  at  Hartford.  Town  deeds  of 
lands  and  records  were  kept  in  a  fragmentary  manner.  Twelve  of  the 
first  pages  of  the  first  alphabetical  book,  entitled,  Letter  A,  Town  Deeds 
of  Fairfield,  and  also  several  pages  from  Letter  B,  of  Town  Votes, 
which  were  begun  as  early  as  the  town  and  probate  records  (1648)  have 
been  lost.  Fortunately,  however,  in  the  latter  part  of  Book  A  of 
Town  Deeds  is  to  be  found  the  following  valuable  record,  which  at 
once  supplies,  not  only  the  names  of  those  who  first  accompanied  Governor 

*  The  best  proof  of  this  fact  was  found  by  the  author — in  a  volume  of  land  records  in  the 
state  archives  of  the  capitol  at  Hartford.  Attached  to  a  paper,  giving  liberty  to  Henry  Gray  and 
John  Green  to  settle  at  Maxumux,  is  the  following  statement  made  in  William  Hill's  hand-writing  : 
"The  above  said  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  paper  that  I  found  on  file,  of  the  Court  acts  left 
with  me  as  clark  by  Mr  Ludlow  ;  the  frontispiece  of  the  original  writing  I  have  not  copied,  it 
being  so  defaced  and  worn  through  age,  that  I  could  not  take  a  copy  thereof,  but  found  it  was  an 
agreement  between  the  town  of  Fairfield  and  the  above  said  parties  and  the  Court,  being  the  tenth 
day  of  November,  1648. 

(Signed)  WILLIAM  HILL,  CLARK." 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  9 

Ludlow  to  Fairfield,  but  gives   a  valuable  clue   to  the   first  laying  out  of 
the  town.     It  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  testimony  of  John  Green  aged  fifty  eight  years,  or  there-abouts,  testifies  as  fol- 
loweth  ;  that  about  the  first  settling  of  the  town  of  Fairfield,  Thomas  Staples,  Thomas  New- 
ton, Edward  Jessop  &  Edmund  Strickland,  having  home-lots  in  ye  rear  of  ye  lots  that  Mr. 
Ludlow's  lot  lay  in,  ye  said  four  above  sd.  persons,  agreed  that  ye  sd.  Thomas  Staples 
should  take  his  lot  at  ye  rear  of  all  ye  four  lots,  &  cut  all  those  lots  so  much  ye  shorter, 
which  according  to  ye  first  laying  out  there,  was  as  long  as  Mr.  Ludlow's  lot,  but  giving 
ye  said  Thomas  Staples  some  allowance  in  measure,  he  had  his  lot  taken  out  of  ye  rear  of 
all  their  lots,  &  upon  ye  sd.  Thomas  Staples  remove  at  ye  rear  of  ye  lots:  ye  sd.  Thomas 
Newton,  Edward  Jessop  &  Edmund  Strickland  did  engage  to  ye  sd.  Thomas  Staples  to 
make  &  maintain  forever  ye  reare  fence  for  their  respective  lots  that  butted  upon  ye  sd. 
Thomas  Staples  lot,  &  further  this  deponent  saith  not. 
This  is  a  true  copy  of  Taken  upon  oath  before 

ye  original  recorded  &  me  this  28.  Nov.  1672. 

compared  this  i.  of  Feb  1688.  WILLIAM  HILL, 

by  me,  Nathan  Gold,  Recorder.  Commissioner." 

Town  Book  A.  of  Deeds,  page  593. 

Turning  from  this  important  record  to  the  first  pages  of  the  book  in 
which  it  is  found,  the  names  of  Edward  Jessop  and  Emund  Strickland 
have  disappeared  from  the  square.  Edward  Jessop  early  sold  most  of  his 
lands  at  Fairfield  and  went  to  Stamford,  and  afterwards  settled  at  New- 
town,  Long  Island.  Edmund  'Strickland  also  went  to  Long  Island  and 
settled  at  Middleburg.  Their  home  lots  at  Fairfield  were  afterwards  occu- 
pied by  Robert  Hawkins  and  John  Barlow,  sr.  The  boundaries  of  Roger 
Ludlow's  land  and  that  of  Thomas  Newton's  fully  corroborate,  as  will  be 
seen,  the  statement  of  John  Green  : 

"4.  Feb.  1653.  Granted  to  Roger  Ludlow  from  the  town  one  home-lot  of  five  acres, 
more  or  less,  bounded  northeast  with  the  highway  ;  northwest  with  the  highway  ;  south- 
west with  the  land  of  Thomas  Morehouse  ;  &  on  the  southeast  with  the  highway.  * 

2.  Dec.  1653.  Alexander  Bryant  of  Milford,  purchased  of  Thomas  Newton  a  dwell- 
ing-house, 1)arn  &  home-lot,  containing  two  acres  &  a  half,  more  or  less,  bounded  on 
the  north  east  with  the  land  of  Thomas  Morehouse,  sometimes  John  Barlow's  ;  south  east 
with  the  highway  ;  south  west  with  the  Land  of  Robert  Hawkins  ;  &  on  the  north  west 
with  the  land  of  Thomas  Staples,  "f 

From  these  two  records  it  will  be  seen  that  the  five  lots  in  this  square 
were  in  1653  occupied  by  Roger  Ludlow,  Thomas  Morehouse,  Thomas 
Newton,  Robert  Hawkins  and  Thomas  Staples,  the  two  lots  first  owned 
by  Edward  Jessop  and  Edmund  Strickland  having  passed,  before  the  town 

*  A.  Town  Deeds,  p.  86.  f  A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  56. 


IO 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 


records  were  begun,  into  the  possession  of  Robert  Hawkins  and  John 
Barlow,  sr.  The  lot  of  the  latter  again  passed  into  the  possession  of 
Thomas  Morehouse. 

This  square,  which  should  always  bear  the  name  of  Ludlow  square,  is  the 
one  lying  north  of  that  on  which  the  Congregational  church  now  stands. 
Roger  Ludlow  had  also  a  pasture  lot  granted  him  of  six  acres  "  on  the 
northeast  side  of  the  highway  that  runs  down  by  the  home-lot,  bounded 
southeast,  southwest,  &  northwest  by  the  commons  &  highways,  &  north- 
east by  the  Windsor-field,"  the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Abraham  Ben- 
son. 

Having  accomplished    the    object  of   his  journey,  Roger  Ludlow  re- 
turned to  Hartford  and  appeared  before  the  session  of  the  General  Court, 
held  on  the   loth  of  October,  1639.     He  had   been  fined  ten  shillings  for 
absence  from  a  court  held  on  the  loth  of  September.     He  therefore  took 
occasion  at   this  time  to   apologize  for  his  absence,  as  well  as   for  having 
begun  a  plantation  at  Uncoway  instead  of  Pequonnock.     He  said  :     "  Mr. 
Deputy  informed  the  Court  that   he  hath  understood  since  his  return,  of- 
fence hath   beene  taken  att  some  of  his  prcedings   in  his   late  jorney  to 
Pequannocke,  and  the  parts  thereabouts:    he  therefore  desired  to  make 
knowne  what  had  beene  done  by  him  therein,  wch  was  this;     Att  his  com- 
ing downe  to  Quinnipiocke  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  uppon  him  in  taking 
away  some  of  his  Cattle,  wch  prevented  him  in  some  of  his  purposes  there 
for  selling  some  of  them  :     Afterwards  att  his  corning  to  Pequannocke  he 
found  cause  to  alter  his  former  thoughts  of  wintering  his  Cattle  there,  and 
understanding  that  the  beginnings  of  a  Plantacon  beyond  that  was  not 
caryed  on  according  to  the  agreement  made  with  those  who  were  inter- 
essed  in  ordering  the  same,  and  that  by  some  things  wch  appeared  to  him, 
his   apprehensions  were  that   some  others  intended  to  take  up  the   sayd 
place,  who  had  not  acquainted  this  Court  with  their  purposes  therein,  wch 
might  be  preiudiciall  to  this  Cofnonwealth,  and  knowing  himselfe  to  be  one 
of  those  to    whom    the   disposel    of  that  plantacon   was  comitteol,  he  ad- 
ventured to  drive  his  Cattle  thither,  make  provition  for  them  there,  and  to 
sett  out  himselfe  and  some  others  house  lotts  to  build   on  there,  and  sub- 
mitts  himselfe   to  the   Court  to  judge  whether  he  hath  transgressed  the 
Comission  or  nott." 

The  court,  taking  the  circumstances  of  the  case  into  consideration,  saw 
fit  to  reprimand  Ludlow,  for  having  transgressed  the  bounds  of  his  com- 
mission. They  did  not  see  why  he  should  be  excused  for  his  neglect  of 
duty  in  not  having  given  notice  to  the  court  "of  what  he  did,  notwith- 
standing his  allegations  of  the  inconveniences  which  otherwise  might  have 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  II 

occurred  :  yet,  that  the  thing  might  more  fully  appear  as  he  had  repre- 
sented, &  that  matters  might  be  ordered  in  a  comely  manner,"  Gov- 
ernor John  Haynes  and  Mr.  Thomas  Wells  were  appointed  a  committee 
"to  repair  thither  &  take  a  view  of  the  aforesaid  occasions,  &  if,  in 
their  judgment,  both  persons  &  things  settled  by  him,  be  soc  as  com- 
fortably be  confirmed,  they  remain  as  they  are,  or  otherwise  altered  att 
their  discrestion  ;  &  they  are  to  report  things  how  they  find  them,  to  the 
next  General  .Court,  that  a  full  issue  may  be  given  to  the  matter  in  hand, 
as  things  shall  then  appear."  * 

Governor  Haynes  and  Mr.  Wells  were  also  appointed  to  administer 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  planters  of  Pequonnock;  make  such  free  as  they 
saw  fit  ;  order  them  to  send  two  deputies  to  the  two  General  Courts  in 
April  and  September;  and  for  all  suits  of  law  under  forty  shillings  to  hold 
court  among  themselves,  and  to  choose  seven  men  among  them  with 
liberty  to  appeal  to  the  General  Court.  Seargant  Nichols  t  was  for  the 
time  being  appointed  to  train  and  exercise  the  men  in  military  discipline. 
The  committee  were  also  to  consult  with  Mr.  Prudens,  6f  the  Stratford 
plantation,  and  to  settle  the  difference  between  them  and  the  Pequonnock 
planters  as  to  who  had  most  right  to  the  places  in  controversy,  and  most 
need  of  them,  and  to  determine  whatever  was  "  most  agreeable  to  equity 
and  reason." 

The  reference  made  by  Ludlow  "  to  the  beginnings  of  a  plantation 
beyond  Uncoa,"  was  without  doubt  to  Rippowams  or  Stamford,  which 
had  been  visited  by  Andrew  Ward,  Robert  Coe,  Francis  Bell,  and  others 
from  Wethersfield,  about  the  same  time  he  received  a  commission  to 
begin  a  settlement  at  Pequonnock.:}: 

The  colony  of  New  Haven  was  settled  in  1638,  by  the  Rev.  John 
Davenport,  Theophilus  Eaton  and  other  gentlemen  of  influence  and 
wealth,  who  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  26th  of  July,  1637.  "  Having  heard 
of  the  pursuit  of  the  Pequots,  &  the  fine  tract  along  the  shore  from 
Saybrook  to  Fairfield,  Mr.  Eaton  &  others  in  the  fall  of  1637,  made  a 
journey  to  Connecticut,  &  having  explored  the  coast  along  the  Sound, 
pitched  upon  Ouinnipiac  for  their  settlement."  They  undoubtedly  in- 

*  Coll.  Record,  Connecticut  i,  35,  36. 

f  Probably  Isaac  Nichols,  of  Stratford.     Ibid.,  i,  36. 

\  It  does  not  appear,  as  has  been  suggested,  that  Ludlow  referred  to  Stratford,  which  was 
settled  about  the  same  time  that  the  settlement  of  Fairfield  was  begun,  for  he  would  then  have  had 
no  excuse  for  seizing  upon  lands  further  west  than  his  commission  granted.  The  fear,  he  states 
"  that  some  others  intended  to  take  up  the  said  place,  who  had  not  acquainted  that  court  with 
their  purposes."  led  him  to  push  on  and  seize  upon  the  lands  west  of  Pequonnock,  as  far  as  the 
little  Sasqua  river. 


12  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

tended  to  form  a  colony  of  sufficient  size  and  strength  to  exist  separate 
and  apart  from  all  others.  The  Connecticut  colony,  therefore,  had  reasons 
for  being  on  the  alert,  lest  the  opulent  planters  of  New  Haven  should  by 
purchase  of  the  natives  lay  claim  to  all  the  lands  lying  along  the  Sound. 
These  planters  who  accompanied  the  Rev.  John  Davenport  to  New  Eng- 
land were  men  of  good  character  and  wealth,  who,  out  of  love  and  respect 
to  their  pastor,  had  followed  him  to  the  New  World.  Unlike  the  suffering 
colonists  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  who  had  spent  the 
money  they  brought  to  this  country  in  the  purchase  of  cattle,  and  neces- 
sary supplies  to  be  forwarded  from  England,  they  were  new  comers,  with 
handsome  fortunes  at  command.  Mr.  Theophilus  Eaton  had  been  deputy- 
governor  of  the  East  India  company,  an  ambassador  from  England  to  the 
King  of  Denmark,  and  was  a  rich  London  merchant.  Their  project  was 
to  have  a  great  trading  city  in  New  England,  and  to  found  a  distinct 
colony.* 

It  would  appear  from  the  apology  of  Ludlow,  that  the  planters  who 
had  gone  from" Wethersfield  to  Rippowams,  had  not  gained  permission 
from  the  General  Court  of  the  Connecticut  colony  to  begin  that  settle- 
ment; but  on  the  contrary,  had  joined  the  colony  of  New  Haven,  the 
names  of  Andrew  Ward  and  Francis  Bell  having  been  enrolled  in  the 
list  of  New  Haven  freemen  in  1639  from  Rippowams. 

Ludlow,  therefore,  had  the  sagacity  and  far-seeing  policy  to  secure  as 
much  land  west  of  Pequonnock,  as  would  entitle  the  colony  of  Connec- 
ticut to  Black  Rock,  one  of  the  finest  harbors  on  the  Sound,  and  the  two 
excellent  harbors  of  Pequonnock  and  Sasqua  or  Mill  river;  also  to  claim 
by  purchase  from  the  natives,  all  the  lands  stretching  from  the  west 
bounds  of  Stratford  to  the  western  limits  of  the  Sasqua  Indian  lands. 
The  wisdom  of  his  course  was  evident,  when,  in  July,  1640,  Captain  Tur- 
ner, as  agent  of  the  New  Haven  colony,  bought  of  Ponus,  sagamore  of 
Toquams,  and  of  Wascussue,  sagamore  of  Shippan,  all  the  grounds 
belonging  to  the  said  Sagamores,  except  a  piece  of  ground  which  Ponus 
reserved  for  himself  and  the  other  Indians  to  plant  upon.  Thus  the 
plantation  of  Rippowams  or  Toquams  and  Shippan  fell  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  New  Haven  colony.  In  October  following  the  planters  of 
Rippowams  or  Stamford  purchased  this  plantation  from  the  New  Haven 
planters.f 

The  colonists  throughout  New  England  greatly  feared  that  a  governor 
might  be  sent  out  from  England.  Each  colony  therefore  became  zealous 
to  acquire  as  much  territory  as  possible,  and  to  begin  plantations  as 

*  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut.  f  New  Haven  Colony  Record,  I,  45. 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  13 

speedily  as  safety  would  permit.  The  leading  men  came  to  New  England 
to  establish  a  republican  form  of  government,  to  elect  their  chief  magis- 
trate from  among  themselves,  and  to  be  a  republic  in  all  save  the  name, 
— while  as  yet  in  their  infancy  they  were  under  a  monarchy.  Each 
founder  of  a  new  colony  aspired  to  be  its  chief  magistrate ;  hence  there 
arose  a  strife  between  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  colonies  to  enlarge 
their  territories,  as  a  matter  of  political  power. 

Connecticut  and  New  Haven  were,  in  reality,  without  patents  to  their 
lands.  They  were  simply  subjects  of  the  mother-country,  having  seized 
upon  and  occupied  a  portion  of  the  lands  claimed  by  the  Warwick 
patent.  This  patent  was  conveyed  on  the  iQth  of  March,  1631,  by  the 
Earl  of  Warwick,  president  of  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  under  his  hand 
and  seal,  to  the  Honorable  Viscount  Say  and  Seal,  Robert  Lord  Brooks, 
Robert  Lord  Rich  and  their  associates  to  the  number  of  eleven,  and  to 
their  heirs  and  assigns  and  associates  forever.  It  embraced  :  "  All  that 
part  of  New  England  in  America,  which  lies  &  extends  itself  from  a 
river  there  called  the  Narragansett  river,  the  space  of  forty  leagues  upon 
a  straight  line  near  the  sea  shore  towards  the  southwest,  as  the  coast  lieth 
towards  Virginia,  accounting  three  English  miles'  to  the  league,  &  also 
all  &  singular  the  lands  &  hereditaments  whatsoever,  lying  &  being  within 
the  bounds  aforesaid,  north  Si  south  in  latitude  &  breadth,  &  in  length  & 
longitude,  of  &  within  all  the  breadth  aforesaid,  throughout  the  main 
lands  there,  from  the  western  ocean  to  the  south  sea,"  *  or  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

It  also  included  all  the  islands  within  its  limits  on  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  coasts.  Accounting  three  English  miles  to  a  league,  gives  the 
coast  line  of  this  patent  I2O  miles.  "This  grant  extends  from  Point 
Judith  to  New  York ;  &  from  thence  in  a  west  line  to  the  south  sea  ; 
&  if  we  take  the  Narragansett  river,  in  its  whole  length,  this  tract  will 
extend  as  far  north  as  Worcester:  it  comprehends  the  whole  of  the 
colony  of  Connecticut  &  much  more,  t 

Both  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  planters,  under  these  circum- 
stances, were  eager  to  obtain,  as  early  as  a  favorable  opportunity  offered, 
a  valid  title  to  the  lands  they  occupied.  % 

*  In  1630  this  tract  was  granted  by  the  Council  of  Plymouth  to  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  the 
same  year  confirmed  to  him  by  a  patent  from  King  Charles  I.  ;  hence  it  is  called  the  Warwick 
Patent,  and  the  Old  Patent  of  Connecticut. 

f  Manuscript  of  President  Clap.     See  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut,  I,  28. 

|  The  great  mistake  into  which  some  of  our  early  historians  have  fallen,  has  been  that  of  repre- 
senting the  planters  of  Connecticut  patentees  of  Viscount  Say  and  Seal,  Lord  Brook  and  others, 
whereas,  in  reality,  they  never  were  patentees  of  those  gentlemen.  This  error  appears  to  have 


14  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1639 

"  In  purchasing  lands,  &  in  making  settlements  in  the  wilderness,  the 
first  planters  of  Connecticut  expended  great  estates  ;  &  many  of  the 
adventurers  expended  more  than  the  lands  &  buildings  were  worth,  with 
all  the  improvements  which  had  been  made  upon  them."  After  the  Pequot 
war,  Uncas  and  the  chiefs  of  other  tribes  of  Connecticut  claimed  a  native 
title  to  their  old  possessions.  The  colonists  therefore  made  peace  with  them 
by  purchasing  of  their  sachem  from  time  to  time  as  much  land  as  they 
required.  Uncas  who  had  been  presented  with  a  hundred  of  the  Pequot 
captives,  having  been  joined  by  many  other  Indians,  could  number  about 
five  hundred  warriors.  As  the  successor  of  Sassicus  in  the  Pequot  line  of 
descent,  he  claimed  the  old  Pequot  grounds  at  New  London  and  Groton. 
The  colony  therefore  purchased  of  him  and  his  successors,  all  the  lands 
lying  within  the  Mohegan  country,  and  afterwards  all  the  particular  towns 
where  a  "settlement  was  made."  They  were  often  obliged  to  renew  their 
league  with  him  and  his  successors,  the  Mohegan  sachems,  and  to  make 
new  presents  and  to  take  new  deeds,  in  order  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the 
colony.'"  This  led  to  a  law  being  enacted  in  1638,  whereby  the  planters 
were  not  allowed  to  purchase  lands  of  the  Indians,  unless  they  fully  ac- 
knowledged themselves  the  lawful  possessors  of  the  soil.  Every  town  was 
required  by  the  General  Court  to  lay  out  a  reservation  for  the  Indians  of 
whom  they  had  purchased  their  lands,  and  to  give  them  the  privilege  of 
hunting  and  fishing  within  their  limits,  as  well  as  to  cut  firewood,  which 
custom  continued  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  after  the  settlements 
began.  The  General  Court  protected  them  from  their  enemies,  and  from 
insult,  fraud  and  violence  from  the  planters.  At  the  beginning  of  a  plan- 
arisen  from  the  idea,  that  the  contract  made  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  with  Mr.  Fen- 
wick,  for  the  purchase  of  the  fort  at  Saybrook  and  its  appurtenances  and  lands  upon  the  river,  was 
"a  purchase  by  Connecticut  of  the  jurisdiction  right  to  the  territory  included  in  the  Earl  of  War- 
wick's grant  to  Viscount  Say  &  Seal  &  his  associates  ;  or  in  other  words  as  an  assignment  to 
the  colony  of  the  old  patent  of  1632  by  Mr.  Fenwick  &  his  co-proprietors.  It  will  be  seen, 
however,  on  referring  to  the  agreement  itself,  that  it  is  merely  a  contract  of  sale  of  the  fort  at  Say- 
brook  &  its  appurtenances  &  lands  upon  the  river— with  a  pledge  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Fenwick,  to 
convey  to  the  colony,  '  if  it  came  into  his  power  '  all  the  lands  between  Saybrook  &  the  Narragansett 
river,  included  in  the  old  patent.  Such  conveyance  does  not  appear  ever  to  have  been  made  ;  on 
the  contrary,  repeated  admissions  of  the  General  Court,  show  that  it  was  not  made,  &  that  so  far 
as  receiving  any  legal  assignment  or  transfer  of  the  old  patent  the  colony  was  (so  late  as  1661) 
without  even  a  copy  of  it,  &  not  fully  informed  of  the  rights  &  privileges  which  it  was  supposed 
to  confer.  The  settlers  of  the  River  towns  had  not — before  or  after  the  agreement  with  Mr. 
Fenwick — any  right  of  jurisdiction,  except  such  as  grew  out  of  occupation,  purchase  of  the  native 
proprietors,  or,  (in  the  case  of  the  Pequot  country)  by  right  of  conquest." — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i. 
Appendix,  No.  III.,  569. 

*  Probably  the  sobriquet  of  an  "Indian-giver"  arose  from  this  desire  of  the  Indians  to  take 
back  what  they  had  already  sold  or  given  away. 


1639]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  15 

tation,  the  law  required  when  any  company  of  Indians  sat  down  near  it, 
that  they  should  declare  who  their  chief  sachem  was,  and  that  the  said 
sachem  should  pay  to  the  English  such  trespasses  as  his  men  committed 
by  spoiling  or  killing  cattle  or  swine,  either  with  traps,  dogs  or  arrows.  If 
guilty  of  ciime  against  the  English,  they  were  to  be  delivered  up  to  justice 
by  their  sachems. 

Before  following  Ludlow  back  to  Uncoway,  certain  acts  of  the  General 
Court  for  the  benefit  of  the  towns  are  worthy  of  notice.  At  the  same 
time  that  he  made  his  apology  before  the  court,  he  assisted  in  preparing 
and  offering  the  following  laws,  viz.  :  that  all  the  towns  within  the  juris- 
diction should  each  have  power  to  dispose  of  their  own  undisposed 
lands,  "  and  all  other  commodities  arising  out  of  their  own  limits  bounded 
out  by  the  court,  the  liberties  of  the  great  rivers  excepted  ;  "  to  choose 
their  own  officers ;  to  impose  penalties  for  any  breach  of  the  law  ;  to 
estreat  and  levy  the  same,  and  for  non-payment  to  distrain  either  by  seiz- 
ing upon  personal  estate  or  to  sell  their  houses  or  lands ;  to  choose  3,  5,  or 
7  once  every  year  of  their  chief  inhabitants,  one  of  whom  should  be  chosen 
moderator,  who  should  have  a  casting  voice,  in  case  there  should  be  an 
equal  number  of  votes;  which  said  persons  should  meet  together  every 
two  months,  to  hear  and  determine  all  controversies  either  by  trespass  or 
debts  not  exceeding  40%  provided  both  parties  lived  in  the  same  town  ; 
and  that  any  two  of  them  should  summon  parties  to  appear  before  their 
court  to  answer  an  action  ;  to  administer  the  oath  to  witnesses  ;  and  to 
give  judgment  and  execution  against  offending  parties.  In  case  of  dis- 
satisfaction, the  aggrieved  parties  were  given  power  to  appeal  to  a  higher 
court. 

Each  town  was  ordered  to  be  provided  with  a  ledger  book  with  an 
alphabetical  index,  and  each  book  numbered  alphabetically  ;  and  to  choose 
a  town-clerk  or  register,  who  should  immediately  register  every  man's 
land.  Every  landholder  was  required  to  take  a  record  of  his  lands  to  the 
town-clerk  within  three  months  under  a  penalty  of  ios  a  month.  No 
bargains  or  mortgages  of  lands  were  to  be  accounted  of  any  value  until 
they  were  recorded.  At  each  session  of  the  General  Court,  and  once  every 
year,  the  constables  in  the  several  towns,  were  required  to  read  or  cause  to 
read,  in  some  public  meeting,  all  such  laws  as  were  then  in  force. 

The  office  of  a  constable  in  those  days  was  one  of  great  importance. 
"  He  was  the  arm  of  the  law  and  the  embodiment  of  its  majesty."  From 
the  date  of  his  anpointment,  the  town  became  a  valid  incorporation,  sub- 
ject to  taxation  and  entitled  to  representation.  Upon  all  public  occasions 
he  appeared  before  the  court  with  his  long  pole  surmounted  with  the 


l6  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1639 

British  emblem  of  royalty ;  and  for  a  time  after  the  Revolution  his  pole 
was  crowned  with  the  American  eagle.  For  the  better  keeping  in  mind 
of  God's  providences,  which  had  been  "  remarkable  since  their  first  under- 
takings," Governor  Ludlow  and  others  were  appointed  to  take  pains  to 
collect  the  same  from  the  towns  in  which  they  resided,  and  to  bring  them 
in  to  the  next  court  in  April,  to  be  recorded,  and  kept  among  the  archives 
at  Hartford,  which  Ludlow  faithfully  carried  out. 

Besides  the  General  Court,  the  court  of  election,  and  the  justice's 
court,  there  was  a  particular  court,  which  consisted  of  the  deputies  or 
representatives  of  the  General  Court,  to  decide  judicial  and  civil  actions, 
debts  and  trespasses  of  over  forty  shilling-?.*  Upon  the  adjournment  of 
this  session  of  the  General  Court,  Ludlow  returned  to  Uncoway  and  con- 
tinued his  labor  of  laying  out  the  town.  Five  wide  streets  were  laid  out 
near  the  old  Meeting-house  green,  two  of  them  running  north-east  and 
south-west,  and  three  crossing  these,  running  north-west  and  south-east  to 
the  Sound,  f  Four  squares  were  laid  out,  each  covering  from  twenty-five 
to  thirty  acres,  which  remain  to-day  almost  precisely  as  Ludlow  laid  them 
out.  These  squares  will  be  named  after  the  persons  who  first  settled 
upon  them,  viz.  :  the  Ludlow,  the  Newton,  the  Frost,  and  the  Burr 
squares.  The  first,  or  Ludlow  square,  which  lies  north  of  the  present 
Congregational  Church,  has  already  been  mentioned. 

The  second,  or  Newton  square,  lies  south-east  of  the  Ludlow  square 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  which,  in  those  days,  was  called  "  the 
street  which  runs  through  the  centre  of 'the  town"  A  wide  street  was  also 
opened  in  the  rear  of  this  square,  running  north-east  from  Concord  street. 
On  the  south-west  corner  of  this  square,  three  acres  were  laid  out  for  the 
use  of  the  minister  called  "  parsonage  land."  \  The  third,  or  Frost  square, 
lies  south-west  of  the  Ludlow  square,  on  the  north-east  corner  of  which, 
about  one  acre  was  laid  out  and  formed  a  part  of  the  Meeting-house 
green  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  meeting-house,  court-house,  and 
school-house.  The  fourth,  or  Burr  square,  lies  on  the  south-east  side  of 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I,  36-40. 

f  The  pioneers  of  New  England  had  every  reason  to  make  good  use  of  the  compass  ;  and  these 
streets  and  squares  were  no  doubt  laid  out  with  the  compass  at  hand,  as  well  as  the  English 
measuring  line  of  acres,  rods,  etc.  The  accurate  lines  of  these  streets  and  squares  are  north-east 
and  south  east,  north-west  and  south-west.  The  author  has  taken  the  liberty  of  naming  the  main 
avenues  after  Ludlow,  Frost  and  Hill,  and  the  other  streets  Dorchester  and  Windsor.  Concord 
street  was  so  named  by  the  Concord  settlers  in  1644. 

\  This  land  was  purchased  by  the  Rev.  Noah  Ilobart,  and  afterward  occupied  by  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Elliot  in  1779  ;  a  new  house  was  erected  after  the  town  was  burned  in  1779,  and  recently 
occupied  by  Miss  Eliza  Hull. 


1639]  DISCOVERY  AND   SETTLEMENT  17 

the  street,  opposite  the  Frost  square.  On  the  north-west  corner  of  this, 
opposite  the  Meeting-house  square,  about  three  acres  were  laid  out  for  a 
military  or  public  park,  which  has  ever  since  been  called  the  "  Meeting- 
house green."  Between  three  and  four  acres  more  were  laid  out  in  the 
rear  of  this,  that  nearest  the  green  for  a  home-lot  and  dwelling-house  for 
the  minister;  and  that  on  the  north-east  corner  of  the  square  for  a  burial 
place,  which  was  called  "  Burial  Hill."  A  pond  of  fresh,  running  water 
lay  on  the  west  side  of  the  Meeting-house  green,  which  some  years  after 
the  settlement,  was  called  Edwards'  pond.*  Stately  buttonball  trees 
stood  like  aged  sentinels  upon  the  green.  On  the  south-west  side  of  the 
Burr  square  was  a  street  or  lane,  leading  to  the  Sound  ;  and  on  the  south- 
east or  rear,  a  lane  was  opened,  which  closed  on  the  north-east  with  the 
fence  of  Burial-hill — which  was  for  many  years  the  first  and  only  grave 
yard  of  the  town,  and  was  much  larger  than  it  is  at  the  present  day. 

Among  those  who  joined  Ludlow  in  September  of  this  year,  were 
William  Frost,  his  son  Daniel  Frost,  and  his  son-in-law  John  Gray,  all  of 
whom  settled  upon  the  Frost  square,  f  William  Frost  took  up  his  home- 
lot  of  two  and  one-half  acres  on  the  south-west  side  of  the  church  and 
school  land.  About  this  time,  or  soon  after,  John  Foster  took  up  three 
acres  in  the  rear  of  this  lot.  Next  adjoining  William  Frost's  lot  on  the 
west,  Francis  Purdie  took  up  three  and  three-quarter  acres,  running 
through  the  square  from  the  south-east  to  the  north-west.  Daniel  Frost 
took  up  three  and  three-quarter  acres  west  of  this,  which  also  extended 
through  the  whole  width  of  the  square.  John  Nichols,  a  brother  of  Isaac 
and  Caleb  Nichols,  of  Stratford,  took  up  two  and  a  half  acres  west  of 
Daniel  Frost.  John  Gray,  who,  before  the  month  of  May,  1639,  had  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  a  daughter  of  William  Frost  and  widow  of  John  Watson,, 
sold  his  house  and  home-lot  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  about  the  1st  of 
August  following,  and  before  the  28th  of  September  (perhaps  accom- 
panied his  father-in-law  to  Uncoway),  took  up  two  and  a  half  acres  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  Frost  square.  Henry  Whelpley  soon  after  took  up 
three  acres  next  adjoining  John  Gray's  lot,  extending  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  square.  At  a  later  date,  John  Green  took  up  three 
acres  on  the  north-west  side  of  this  square,  between  Henry  Whelpley's  lot 
and  Daniel  Frost's.  Richard  Westcot  took  up  two  and  a  half  acres  on 
the  south-east  side  of  the  square  between  John  Gray  and  John  Nichols. 

*  So  named  from  John  Edwards,  who  purchased  the  Rev.  John  Jones'  house  and  home-lot  of: 
Thomas  Bennet,  December  23,  1686.     A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  51. 

f  Leechford's  Plain  Dealing,  p.  101.     Record  of  Jacob  Gray's  land,  Fairfield.  A,  Town  Deeds. 
Will  of  William  Frost,  Conn.  Col.  Rec.,  Vol.  i,  p.  465. 
2 


1 8  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1640 

There  appears  to  be  every  reason  to  believe  that  John  and  Thomas 
Barlow  settled  at  Uncoway  about  this  time,  or  very  soon  after,  which 
seems  to  be  fully  substantiated  by  a  record  of  1653,  that  the  land  of 
Thomas  Morehouse,  "some  times"  or  for  sonic  time  previous,  had  been 
owned  by  John  Barlow  ;  which  must  have  been  purchased  by  him  at  an 
early  date,  else  some  reference  would  have  been  made  to  its  first  owner. 
Daniel  Frost  had  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  John  Barlow  ;  it  is 
therefore  a  natural  conclusion  that  these  families,  so  closely  allied  by  inter- 
marriage, should  have  journeyed  to  Uncoway  together.  Thomas  Barlow, 
who  was  probably  nearly  related  to  John  Barlow,  took  up  five  acres  on 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  Frost  square,  in  the  rear  of  the  school  and 
church  land,  next  adjoining  William  Frost's  and  John  Foster's  land  on  the 
cast.  Abraham  Frost  also  accompanied  his  father  William  Frost  to  Unco- 
way. The  latter  in  his  will  mentions  having  purchased  for  this  son  the 
house  and  home  lot  of  John  Strickland  of  Wethersfield,  who  tarried  but 
a  short  time  at  Fairfield,  as  soon  after  he  is  found  at  Long  Island. ~::~ 

These  few  families  were  the  first  settlers  of  Uncoway,  and  to  them  be- 
long' the  honor  of  breaking  the  soil  of  the  fair  fields  and  meadows  of  the 

O  >--> 

town,  and  erecting  the  first  dwellings  and  the  first  town  and  school-house. 
They  were  a  small  community,  closely  allied  by  ties  of  kinship  and  friend- 
ship. The  hours  were  all  too  short  for  the  labor  necessary  to  accomplish 
building  their  dwellings  and  outhouses  for  their  cattle,  before  the  winter 
closed  in  upon  them.  The  terror  which  some  of  them  had  endured  from  the 
Indians  in  the  river  settlements,  and  the  miseries  of  a  famine  no  longer  har- 
assed them.  Here  the  Indians  were  peaceably  disposed,  so  that  they  slept 
in  peace  and  rose  in  the  morning  refreshed  for  the  labor  of  the  day,  while 
their  hearts  were  made  brave  to  endure  the  approaching  winter  months, 
with  the  wealth  which  the  rich  meadows,  the  fine  forests,  and  the  rivers 
and  Sound  promised  them  when  spring  opened. 

In  1640,  early  in  January,  Governor  Ludlow  again  made  his  way 
through  the  wilderness  to  Hartford,  in  order  to  be  present  at  the  assem- 
bling of  the  General  Court,  held  on  the  sixteenth.  At  the  opening  of  the 
court  the  governor  informed  those  present  "'  that  the  occasion  of  calling 
them  together  at  that  time  was  the  importunity  of  their  neighbors  at 
Weathersfield,  who  desired  to  have  some  answer  concerning  Uncoa  :  & 
thereupon  he  related  that  himself  with  Mr.  Wells,  according  to  the  order 
of  the  Court,  went  thither  &  took  a  view  of  what  had  been  done  by  Mr. 
Ludlow  there;  &  upon  due  consideration  of  the  same,  they  had  thought 

*  A,  Fairfield  Town   Deeds,    Thomas   Barlow's  land,  p.  59  ;  Savage's  Gen.  Die.  ;   Thomson's 
History  Long  Island. 


1640]  DISCOVERY  AND   SETTLEMENT  19 

fit,  upon  Mr.  Ludlow's  "  assenting  to  the  terms  propounded  by  them,  to 
confirm  the  same. 

It  appears  that  a  division  had  occurred  among  the  members  of  the 
Wethersfield  church,  which  led  to  a  number  leaving  that  plantation  and 
joining  others.  Those  who  first  settled  Stamford  were  from  Wethers- 
field,  and  the  Stricklands  of  Fairfield  were  also  from  that  town.  At  a 
session  of  the  General  Court  held  on  the  2Oth  of  February,  "  Mr  Deputy, 
(which  title  was  frequently  given  to  the  deputy-governor  of  the  colony) 
was  entreated  to  consider  of  some  order  concerning  an  inquiry  into  the 
death  of  any  that  happen  either  accidently  or  by  violence,  &  for  disposing 
the  estate  of  Persons  that  die  intestate ;  &  for  yc  power  of  the  magis- 
trate in  inflicting  corporal  punishment,  &  present  it  to  the  next  Court: 
&  also  what  course  may  be  best  taken  with  any  that  shall  buy  or  pos- 
sess lands  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  that  the  public  good 
might  be  promoted."  * 

On  the  26th  of  February  Ludlow  entered  into  a  treaty  with  Mame- 
chimoh,  the  chief  sachem  of  Norwake  (Norvvalk),  of  whom  he  purchased 
all  the  lands  lying  "  between  the  Saugatuck  &  Norwalk  rivers  to  the  middle 
of  s'd  rivers,  &  from  the  sea  a  day's  walk  into  the  country."  Thus  an- 
other plantation  was  secured  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut.  Again, 
on  the  5th  of  March,  Ludlow  was  present  as  one  of  the  judges  of  a  par- 
ticular court  held  at  Hartford.  Ludlow  also  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
of  the  Indians  at  Levvisboro  (lower  Salem),  Westchester  county.  New 
York,  i6th  of  February,  1640.  Captain  Daniel  Patrick  purchased  the 
central  portion  of  that  town  on  the  2oth  of  April,  1640.  A  few  planters 
appear  to  have  settled  there  at  this  early  date,  but  no  formal  settlement 
was  made  until  1651,  at  which  date  the  western  part  of  the  town  was 
purchased.  Greenwich  was  also  settled  about  the  same  time,  but  revolt- 
ing to  the  Dutch,  it  was  not  regained  until  the  charter  of  Connecticut 
was  granted  in  1602,  when  it  became  a  part  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Con- 
necticut. 

The  spring  opened  with  joyous  promises  to  the  planters.  The  winter 
had  passed  without  disquietude  from  the  Indians,  or  loss  of  numbers 
among  themselves.  The  plow  opened  the  rich  meadows  for  the  recep- 
tion of  English  grass  seed,  barley,  oats,  wheat  and  the  Indian  corn  of  the 
natives,  as  well  as  for  vegetable  seed,  fruit  stones  and  trees  imported  from 

*  This  land  was  individually  purchased  by  Roger  Ludlow  "  in  consideration  of  eight  fathom 
of  wampum,  sixe  coates,  tenn  hatchets,  tenn  hoes,  term  knives,  tenn  sissors,  tenn  Jewse  harpes, 
tenn  fathom  tobackoe,  three  kittles  of  sixe  hands  about,  &  tenn  looking-glasses." — Hall's  Hist 
of  Norwalk,  p  30. 


20  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1640 

England.  Ludlow  was  absent  from  the  court  of  election  held  at  Hart- 
ford on  the  Qth  of  April,  at  which  time  Edward  Hopkins,  Esq.  was  chosen 
governor  and  John  Haynes  deputy-governor.  Ludlow  was  re-elected  one 
of  the  magistrates,  or  assistant  judges  of  the  particular  court.  Governor 
Hopkins  was  instructed  to  give  him  the  oath  for  the  place  of  magistracy. 
This  office,  which  he  had  held  the  year  previous,  gave  him  the  power  of 
enforcing  the  laws  of  the  colony,  administering  justice  and  arbitrating  all 
controversies  in  the  town  in  which  he  resided.  He  was  therefore  th  e  first 
judge  of  Fairfield.  It  was  also  ordered  that  "  Mr  Haynes,  Mr  Ludlow, 
and  Mr  Wells  should  settle  the  bounds  between  Pequannock  and  Unco- 
waye,  on  or  before  the  24.  of  June,  according  to  their  former  commission  ; 
&  that  they  should  tender  the  Oath  of  Fidelity  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  towns,  &  make  such  free  as  they  should  approve."  * 

There  is  no  record  of  any  settlement  at  Pequonnock  at  that  time,  but 
from  the  earliest  extant  boundaries  of  lands  in  1650,  occasional  reference 
is  made  to  home-lots  having  been  previously  owned  by  Nicholas  Knell — 
afterwards  of  Stratford — John  Evarts  and  others.  There  is  ground  to 
believe  that  before  the  emigration  from  Concord  in  1644,  a  few  persons 
had  settled  on  the  King's  Highway,  near  the  green  adjoining  the  old  Pe- 
quonnock burying  ground.  Ludlow  being  the  chief  magistrate,  and  hav- 
ing laid  out  the  first  four  squares  at  Unco  way  as  the  centre  of  the  town, 
it  was  natural  that  the  most  of  those  who  came  early  should  settle  near 
by  for  mutual  protection  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the  natives. 

About  this  time  the  Indians  began  to  be  troublesome  throughout  the 
colony.  The  General  Court  therefore  passed  a  law  that  if  the  watchmen 
of  the  towns  should  discover  any  Indians  within  the  bounds  of  their  plan- 
tations, or  if  found  by  the  ward  appointed  for  the  day  breaking  open  any 
house,  or  attempting  the  life  of  any  person,  it  should  be  lawful  for  him  to 
shoot  them.  Thomas  Stanton,  the  interpreter  between  the  Pequot  In- 

*THE  OATH  OF  A  FREEMAN.     [Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.] 

"  I,  A.  B  being  by  the  Prvidence  of  God  an  Inhabitant  wthin  the  Jurisdiction  of  Conecte- 
cott,  doe  acknowledge  myselfe  to  be  subiecte  to  the  Government  thereof,  and  doe  sweare  by  the 
great  and  fearefull  name  of  the  ever-liveing  God,  to  be  true  and  faythfull  vnto  the  same,  and  doe 
submitt  boath  my  prson  and  estate  thereunto,  according  to  all  the  holsome  lawes  and  orders  that 
there  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be  there  made,  and  established  by  lawful  authority,  and  that  I  will 
neither  plott  nor  practice  any  cvell  ag'  the  same,  nor  consent  to  any  that  shall  so  doe,  but  will 
tymely  discover  the  same  to  lawfull  authority  there  established  :  and  that  I  will,  as  I  am  in  duty 
bownd,  mayntayne  the  honner  of  the  same  and  of  the  lawfull  magestratts  thereof,  prmoting  the 
publike  good  of  y',  whilst  I  shall  soe  continue  an  Inhabitant  there  ;  and  whensoeur  I  shall  giue  my 
voate  or  suffrage  touching  any  matter  wch  conserns  this  Cofhon  welth  being  cauled  thereunto,  will 
give  y*  as  in  my  conscience  I  shall  judge,  may  conduce  to  the  best  good  of  the  same,  w^out  respect 
of  prsons  or  favor  of  any  man.  Soe  help  me  God  in  or  Lord  Jesus  Christe." 


1640]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  21 

dians  and  the  English  troops  at  Pequot  swamp  in  1637,  was  appointed  to 
give  notice  of  this  order  to  all  the  Indian  chiefs. 

"  No  suitable  place  having  been  prepared  for  persons  guilty  of  misde- 
meanor or  crime,  the  court  ordered  that  a  house  of  correction  should  be 
built  at  Hartford."  As  Fairfield  and  Stratford  were  so  far  distant  from 
Hartford  as  to  make  it  inconvenient,  in  suits  of  appeal  from  the  town 
court  to  the  particular  and  General  Court,  Mr.  William  Hopkins,  of 
Stratford,  was  appointed  to  join  Ludlow  in  holding  a  particular  court  in 
each  place.  Ludlow  was  also  appointed  to  collect  tribute  from  the  Indians. 
Every  owner  of  appropriated  grounds  was  required  "to  bound  each 
particular  parcell  with  sufficient  mere-stones  to  preserve  and  keep  them." 

From  the  early  records  of  Fairfield  it  is  shown  that  the  home-lots  on 
the  east  side  of  Meeting-house  green,  for  some  years  had  no  other 
separation  than  stones  set  in  the  ground  at  convenient  distances.  For 
want  of  any  town  records  of  those  early  days,  imagination  can  only  sup- 
ply the  history  of  the  first  year  of  the  planters  of  Uncoway.  Without 
doubt  each  man  accomplished  a  daily  round  of  hard  manual  labor.  With 
the  help  of  their  own  servants  and  the  Indians,  considerable  progress  must 
have  been  made  in  raising  a  supply  of  staple  products  for  the  necessities 
of  the  winter ;  and  their  horses,  cattle  and  sheep  were  made  healthy  with 
sweet  English  grass,  oats  and  hay.  Probably  the  first  town  and  school- 
house  was  built  this  year,  which  also  served  as  a  place  of  worship  until 
the  planters  were  able  to  erect  a  meeting-house.  It  stood  a  little  north- 
west of  the  present  Congregational  church,  facing  towards  the  north-east. 
It  evidently  contained  two  or  more  rooms,  and  was  used  as  a  town  and 
school-house  until  1693,  when  it  was  given  by  the  town  to  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Webb  for  a  parsonage.* 

Among  those  who  joined  the  plantation  during  the  year,  was  Henry 
Gray  of  Boston,  the  brother  of  John  Gray,  who  soon  after  May,  1639, 
married  Lydia,  another  daughter  of  William  Frost.  He  appears  to  have 
lived  with  his  father-in-law,  who  in  his  will,  left  him  and  his  son,  Jacob 
Gray,  the  Frost  homestead.  For  want  of  data,  it  is  not  possible  to  give 
the  precise  time  when  all  the  early  settlers  came  to  Fairfield  and  Pequon- 
nock,  before  or  after  1644.  In  several  instances,  besides  those  already 
mentioned,  this  can  be  done;  but  the  record  of  lands  in  1650  supplies 
most,  if  not  all  the  names  of  those  who  settled  in  the  town  previous  to 
that  date,  and  will  be  given  hereafter. 

*  See  gift  of  town  or  school-house  to  Rev.  Mr.  Webb,  Letter  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  107.  This 
property  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  Eunice  Dennie,  wife  of  Thaddeus  Burr,  who  deeded 
it  to  the  Congregational  parish,  by  which  it  was  sold  to  private  individuals. 


22  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1641 

A  great  scarcity  of  money  among  the  planters  of  Connecticut  became 
a  serious  matter  of  legislative  action  at  the  assembling  of  the  General 
Court,  held  at  Hartford  on  the  ;th  of  February.  All  available  coins  of  the 
different  nationalities  which  had  been  brought  to  America,  had  been  used. 
Indian  wampum,  wampumpeag,  or  peag,  which  was  made  of  the  end  of  a 
periwinkle  shell  and  the  back  part  of  a  clam  shell,  was  at  first  received  in 
trafficking  with  the  Indians,  and  for  a  time  was  used  as  money  even  among 
the  planters.  The  beads  were  small  and  of  white,  black  and  purple,  about 
a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  in  diameter  less  than  a  pipe-stem, 
drilled  lengthwise,  and  strung  upon  a  thread.  The  white  beads  were  rated 
at  half  the  value  of  the  black  or  violet.  At  one  time  a  fathom,  or  string 
of  wampum  consisted  of  360  beads,  and  was  valued  at  60  pence,  6  white 
beads  one  penny,  360  black  beads  120  pence,  and  three  black  beads  one 
penny.  Their  value,  however,  varied  from  time  to  time. 

The  General  Court,  taking  into  consideration  the  great  expense  to 
which  the  colonists  had  been  subjected  in  sending  abroad  for  necessary 
articles  of  food  and  clothing,  "  &  not  knowing  how  the  commonwealth 
could  be  long  supported  unless  some  staple  commodities  should  be  raised 
in  order  to  defray  their  debts,"  passed  the  following  acts: 

That  all  possible  encouragement  might  be  given  for  the  full  employ- 
ment of  men  and  cattle  for  the  improvement  of  land,  so  that  English 
grain  could  be  raised  by  the  planters  themselves,  by  all  disposed  to  im- 
prove their  estates  in  husbandry,  the  court  granted  "  one  hundred  acres  of 
plowing  ground  &  twenty  acres  of  meadow,  provided  twenty  acres  were 
improved  the  first,  &  eighty  the  second  year,"  which  resolution  was  to 
take  effect  immediately.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  set  forth  the 
form  and  order,  as  to  the  manner  in  which  each  man's  proportion  should 
be  laid  out,  with  a  competent  quantity  of  upland  ;  to  the  owner  of  each 
team  a  competent  lot  for  a  workman  "  to  manage  the  business  &  carry 
on  the  work;"  and  to  admit  inhabitants  to  new  plantations,  and  set  out 
their  bounds.  All  persons  who  gave  in  their  names  to  the  committee  for 
this  undertaking,  were  to  have  their  divisions  set  out  to  them  in  regular 
order,  next  after  the  committee  had  made  choice  for  themselves.  If  any 
person  undertaking  a  hundred  acres  or  less,  should  neglect  or  fail  to  be 
able  to  carry  out  the  terms  specified,  the  court  reserved  the  power  to  dis- 
possess him  of  the  grant,  paying  him  a  reasonable  satisfaction  for  what 
improvements  he  had  made.  The  court  also  reserved  the  power  to  refuse 
such  applicants  as  they  deemed  unfit  for  the  undertaking.  All  stock 
removed  from  one  place  to  another  was  taxed  in  the  place  from  whence 
it  came,  and  the  tax  paid  towards  making  roads,  or  other  public  im- 


1641]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  23 

provements,  until  the  new  plantation  should  be  capable  of  maintaining 
itself. 

Governor  Hopkins,  having  fitted  out  a  vessel  to  be  sent  for  a  cargo  of 
cotton  to  the  Bermuda  Islands,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  each  plan- 
tation should  receive  its  proportion  according  to  its  means  of  payment,  to 
be  made  in  English  corn  or  pipe-staves,  in  which  Fairfield  shared.  For 
preserving  timber  for  pipe-staves,  a  law  was  passed  that  no  timber  should 
be  felled  within  the  bounds  of  the  plantations,  nor  any  pipe-staves  sold 
out  of  the  plantations,  without  the  consent  of  the  court,  nor  transported 
into  foreign  ports,  until  they  were  inspected  and  approved  by  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  court  as  to  due  proportion  and  size.  A  committee  was 
also  appointed  to  consider  the  best  way  to  improve  land,  and  to  provide 
suitable  fencing  for  the  protection  of  growing  crops ;  and  also  to  keep 
herds  of  cattle  in  the  most  economical  manner.  The  skins  and  felts  of 
cows  and  goats  were  ordered  to  be  carefully  preserved,  and  dressed  for 
home  use  and  for  the  market,  under  a  penalty  such  as  the  court  should 
approve.  "  That  they  might  in  time  have  a  supply  of  linen  among  them- 
selves," it  was  made  a  law,  that  every  particular  family  in  the  colony 
should  procure  and  plant,  within  a  year,  at  least,  one  spoonful  of  English 
hemp-seed,  in  some  fruitful  soil,  at  least  a  foot  distant  betwixt  every  seed  ; 
the  seed  of  the  same  to  be  carefully  husbanded  for  another  year :  and 
that  every  family  should  raise  at  least  half  a  pound  of  flax  or  hemp.  It 
was  also  ordered  that  every  family  possessing  a  team,  even  if  not  more 
than  three  draft  cattle,  should  sow  the  second  year,  at  least  one  rood  of 
hemp  or  flax  ;  and  every  person  who  kept  cattle,  whether  cows,  heifers  or 
steers,  should  sow  ten  perches,  and  tend  and  husband  the  same,  or  undergo 
the  censure  of  the  court.  All  country  taxes  were  ordered  to  be  paid  in 
merchantable  Indian  corn,  at  three  shillings  a  bushel. 

The  debts  of  the  plantations,  either  by  labor  of  man,  or  cattle,  or  con- 
tract for  commodities,  were  ordered  to  be  paid  in  Indian  corn  at  three 
shillings  and  four  pence  a  bushel.  Wampum,  which  since  1638  had  been 
rated  at  six  a  penny  was  now  raised,  "  to  four  a  penny,  &  two-pence  to 
be  paid  in  the  shilling."  These  laws,  which  were  established  for  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  plantations  of  the  colony,  were  the  small 
beginnings  of  the  fortunes  of  the  early  settlers  of  Connecticut.  They  had 
spent  what  money  they  brought  with  them  ;  and  with  manly  energy 
they  went  about  making  new  fortunes  in  a  New  World,  by  the  literal 
sweat  of  their  brows.  It  was  made  a  crime,  punishable  by  law,  to  waste 
even  the  smallest  and  most  insignificant  article  which  might  be  utilized 
by  each  individual  family;  thus  establishing  the  prosperity  of  the  united 


24  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1641 

commonwealth.  This  healthful  care  in  the  day  of  small  things  was  the 
beginning  of  the  success  of  the  Connecticut  planters,  which  their  descend- 
ants have  inherited.  It  always  provided  them  with  coffers  well  filled 
for  every  emergency,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  It  made  the  thrifty 
New  Englander  respected  in  all  lands ;  and  has  won  for  New  England 
the  reputation  of  being  the  back-bone  and  sinew  of  the  American 
people. 

We  also  gather  from  the  first  of  these  resolutions,  the  manner  in  which 
landed  estates  were  acquired  by  the  planters,  and  the  time  when  the 
first  general  laying  out  of  the  farming  lands  at  Fairfield  began.  Its  fair 
fields  and  rich  meadows,  under  the  passage  of  this  law,  must  have  attracted 
many  to  join  the  settlement.  Another  committee  was  this  year  appointed 
to  visit  Pequonnock  "  to  settle  the  bounds  between  them  &  the  Planta- 
tions on  both  sides  of  them,  &  to  hear  &  determine  the  difference  be- 
tween the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  among  themselves." 

It  appears  that  Stratford  claimed  a  certain  number  of  acres  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Pequonnock  river,  so  that  between  that  plantation  and 
Faivfield,  the  Pequonnock  settlement  was  kept  in  a  state  of  unrest  sev- 
eral years.  Ludlow  was  also  required  to  exact  of  the  Fairfield  Indians 
the  tribute  yet  unpaid  and  due,  by  articles  formerly  agreed  upon.  At 
the  same  time  the  deputies  from  the  several  towns  were  freed  from 
watching,  warding  and  training,  until  after  the  General  Court  terms 
ended. 

That  economy  might  be  still  better  practiced,  the  General  Court  saw 
fit  to  legislate  at  this  time  on  the  subject  of  dress.  The  frequent  arrival 
of  vessels  from  England  laden  with  such  necessaries  as  the  colonists  re- 
quired, also  brought  over  all  kinds  of  fabrics  for  wearing  apparel.  The 
profit  derived  by  the  planters  from  exporting  building  materials,  Indian 
corn,  furs,  medicinal  plants,  and  dyeing  woods,  furnished  them  not  only 
with  means  of  exchange  for  their  necessities,  but  also  afforded  them  an  op- 
portunity to  indulge  in  pretty  costumes.  This  evil  the  forefathers  of  New 
England  endeavored  to  curtail  as  best  they  could  from  time  to  time.  The 
magistrates  of  Connecticut  found  no  little  trouble  in  subduing  the  natural 
inclination  of  both  men  and  women  in  their  love  of  dress,  which  appears 
to  have  been  regarded  "  as  a  sore  and  besetting  sin  ;  "  therefore,  at  the 
assembling  of  the  General  Court  at  Hartford,  on  the  9th  of  April,  the 
following  act  was  passed  :  "  Notwithstanding  the  late  order,  concerning 
the  restraint  of  excess  in  apparel,  yet  divers  persons  of  several  ranks  are 
observed  to  exceed  therein  :  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  Constables  of 
every  town  within  these  liberties,  shall  observe  &  take  notice  of  any 


1641]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  25 

particular  person  or  persons  within  their  several  limits,  &  all  such  as 
they  judge  to  exceed  their  condition  &  rank  therein,  they  shall  present 
&  warn  to  appear  at  the  Particular  Court ;  as  also  the  said  Constables 
are  to  present  to  the  s'd  Court,  all  such  persons  who  sell  their  commod- 
ities at  excessive  rates."  * 

"  Our  meaner  sort  that  metamorphos'd  are, 

With  women's  hair,  in  gold  &  garments  gay, 
Whose  wages  large  our  Commonwealth's  work  mar, 

Their  pride  they  shall  with  moderation  lay  : 
Cast  off  their  cloathes,  that  men  may  know  their  rank, 
And  women  that  with  outward  deckings  frank." 

— Johnson's  Wonder  Working  Providence. 

At  the  same  time,  in  order  to  increase  the  interest  of  home-made  linen 
in  every  family,  all  persons  possessing  more  than  one  spoonful  of  hemp 
seed,  were  required  to  sell  it  to  such  of  their  neighbors  as  were  not  pro- 
vided with  the  seed,  or  else  plant  as  many  spoonfuls  themselves  as  they 
had  applicants  for.  Again  on  the  /th  of  June,  the  officers  of  the  General 
Court  met  at  Hartford,  to  take  into  consideration  an  excess  in  wages 
among  all  sorts  of  artificers  and  workmen.  "  It  was  hoped  that  men  would 
be  a  law  unto  themselves  ;  "  but,  finding  to  the  contrary,  the  following  act 
was  passed :  "  That  able  carpenters,  plowrights,  wheel-rights,  masons, 
joiners,  smiths  &  coopers,  shall  not  receive  above  twenty  pence  a  day  for 
a  days  work,  from  the  10.  of  March,  to  the  II.  of  October;  nor  above 
18.  pence  a  day  for  the  other  part  of  the  year.  They  were  to  work" 
eleven  hours  in  the  summer  time,  besides  that  spent  in  eating  or  sleeping, 
and  ten  hours  in  the  winter.  Mowers,  in  time  of  mowing,  were  not  to 
receive  "  above  twenty  pence  for  a  day's  work."  Artificers  or  handicraft 
men  and  chief  laborers,  were  restricted  to  eighteen  pence  for  the  first  half 
year  as  above,  and  not  more  than  fourteen  pence  a  day  for  the  other  part 
of  the  year.  "  Sawyers  for  slit-work,"  or  three-inch  plank,  were  not  to 
exceed  above  three  shillings  six  pence  a  day  for  boards  by  the  hundred  : 
also  that  all  boards  should  not  be  sold  for  more  than  five  shillings  six 
pence  a  hundred. 

The  hire  of  "  four  of  the  best  sort  of  oxen  or  horses  with  the  tacklin," 
was  not  to  exceed  four  shillings  ten  pence  a  day  from  the  nth  of  March,  to 
the  lith  of  October,  for  eight  hours'  labor,  except  they  were  employed  in 
breaking  up  upland  ground,  for  which  work  four  shillings  ten  pence  was 
allowed,  even  if  they  worked  but  six  hours.  For  the  same  teams  they 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i,  6. 


26  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1641 

allowed  four  shillings  a  day  from  the  I  ith  of  October,  to  the  nth  of  March, 
at  six  hours'  labor.  If  any  person  either  directly,  or  indirectly  gave  or 
took  larger  wages  than  this  law  allowed,  they  were  to  abide  the  censure  of 
the  court. 

In  order  to  promote  the  interests  of  exporting  timber,  for  discharging 
debts  or  necessary  provisions  in  exchange  for  cotton,  sugar,  molasses, 
spices  and  rum  from  the  South  and  the  Bermudas,  on  the  loth  of  September 
the  General  Court  revoked  the  former  order  in  regard  to  pipe-staves,  and 
passed  the  following  resolution,  viz. :  "that  the  size  of  pipe-staves  should 
be  four  feet,  four  inches  in  length,  half  an  inch  at  least  in  thickness, 
beside  the  sap."  If  under  four  inches  in  breadth,  they  were  to  pass  for  half 
staves,  and  none  were  to  be  accepted  under  three  inches  in  breadth.  An 
order  was  given  that  every  town  should  appoint  one  experienced  man  who 
should  be  sworn  to  the  service  to  inspect  the  staves,  and  that  each  parcel 
approved  by  him  should  be  sealed.  All  such  parcels  approved  and  sealed, 
were  made  merchantable  at  five  pounds  per  thousand.  With  vast  acres  of 
fine  timber,  and  with  one  of  the  finest  harbors  on  the  coast,  the  planters  of 
Fairfield,  found  an  abundant  source  of  wealth  at  hand.  Black  Rock  became, 
and  was  for  many  years  called,  the  sea-port  harbor  of  Fairfield.  The  family 
of  Grays  appear  to  have  been  London  merchants,  and  engaged  in  the  New 
England  shipping  business  with  the  Ludlow  family.  There  is  every  reason 
therefore  to  believe  that  vessels  were  at  an  early  date  laden  from  Black 
Rock  for  England,  Virginia  and  the  West  Indies.  Among  the  first  sea 
captains  were  Thomas  Newton  and  John  Cable. 

Again  another  committee  from  Milford  was  appointed  to  settle  the 
bounds  between  Pequonnock  and  Uncoway.  In  order  to  promote  truth- 
fulness, the  want  of  which  appears  to  have  given  some  trouble  in  the  colony, 
the  court  passed  the  following  law:  "For  preventing  the  fowl  and  gross 
sin  of  lying,"  when  any  person  or  persons  were  found  guilty  of  that  vice, 
the  particular  court  was  given  power  "  to  censure  such  parties,  either  by 
fine  or  bodily  correction,  according  to  their  judgment  and  the  nature  of 
the  fault." 

About  this  time  the  Dutch  gave  the  Connecticut  settlers  no  little 
trouble  in  regard  to  their  claims  in  the  colony,  and  in  selling  arms  and 
ammunition  to  the  Indians.  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins,  who  was  about  to 
make  a  voyage  to  England,  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  "  to 
arbitrate  or  issue  the  difference  between  the  Dutch  &  Connecticut,  that 
the  matter  might  be  settled."  The  great  fear  entertained  throughout 
New  England  at  this  time  was,  that  the  Indians  would  form  a  combination 
in  a  general  war  against  the  planters. 


1642]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  2? 

A  marked  change  was  made  at  the  General  Court  of  election  held  at 
Hartford  on  the  second  Thursday  in  April.  George  Wyllis,  Esq.,  was 
elected  governor,  and  Roger  Ludlow  deputy-governor.  Henry  Gray  was 
made  a  deputy  from  Fairfield.  Previous  to  this  time  six  magistrates  had 
been  annually  chosen  ;  but  now  it  was  decided  that  the  number  should  be 
increased  to  eight,  probably  on  account  this  year  of  Stamford  sending  two 
representatives  to  the  Connecticut  Court.  It  was  also  agreed  for  the  time 
being,  that  the  particular  court  should  be  held  "  about  once  in  a  quarter 
of  a  year." 

An  order  was  issued  that  no  person  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Con- 
necticut should  trade  with  the  Indians  on  Long  Island  until  further  orders. 
Also,  that  no  man  within  the  colony  should  refuse  merchantable  Indian 
corn  at  2s.  6d.  a  bushel  for  any  contract  made  for  the  labor  of  man,  cattle, 
or  commodities,  sold  after  the  publishing  of  this  order.  The  Indians  be- 
coming still  more  troublesome,  great  fears  were  entertained  for  the  safety 
of  the  settlements,  it  having  been  discovered  that  Miantonimo,  chief 
sachem  of  the  Narragansetts,  had  entered  into  a  combination  with  So- 
heage  or  Sequin,  the  sachem  of  Matabeseck  (Middletown),  and  Sassawin 
or  Sequassen  the  sachem  of  Sicaogg  (Hartford),  for  the  extermination  of 
the  English  throughout  New  England.  Sequin  had  all  along  given  the 
river  settlements  trouble  ;  and  various  efforts  had  been  made  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  restrain  his  insolent  conduct  and  acts  of  cruelty. 

This  plot  was  revealed  to  Ludlow  by  a  Fairfield  sachem.  "  About  the 
2Oth  of  August,  the  last  day  of  the  week,  towards  evening,  there  came 
the  said  Indian  that  lives  near  Mr.  Ludlow's,  in-  the  field  where  he  was 
with  his  hay  makers,  &  desired  that  he  might  with  Adam,  his  Indian* 
have  some  private  talk.  Mr.  Ludlow  w,ith  Adam  accompanied  him  under 
a  bush  out  of  sight — he  durst  not  go  to  Ludlow's  house  for  fear  of  being 
suspected.  Upon  a  promise  of  his  name  not  being  revealed,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  relate  that  Miantonimo  had  been  to  Long  Island,  &  had  in- 
duced all  the  sachems  of  the  Island  to  engage  in  a  conspiracy  against  the 
English,  giving  each  of  them  25  fathom  of  wampum,  20  of  white  & 
five  of  black.  All  the  sachems  on  the  Island  &  upon  the  main  from  the 
Dutch  to  the  Bay,  &  all  the  Indians  to  the  Eastward  had  also  pledged 
their  assistance.  Many  opposed  the  plot  because  the  English  were  too 
strong  for  them,  but  Miantonimo  said  it  could  be  done  only  by  their  united 
effort.  In  order  to  gain  or  compass  Uncas,  the  Mohawks  were  entreated 
to  join  them,  which  was  effected.  The  reason  assigned  for  this  was  that 

*  Adam  was  an  Indian  whom  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  granted  to  Governor  Ludlow 
in  1634,  "  to  entertain  as  a  household  servant." — -Mass.  Col.  Rec.,  i,  127. 


28  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1642 

the  Narragansetts  feared  they  would  be  punished  for  John  Oldham's 
death ;  *  &  that  the  English  got  possession  of  the  best  places  in  the 
country  &  drove  the  Indians  away." 

The  plot  was  to  be  executed  the  next  winter;  every  Indian  plantation 
was  to  attack  the  English  adjoining,  and  if  more  English  than  Indians, 
they  were  to  be  assisted  by  their  neighbors ;  specially  an  attack  was  to  be 
made  on  the  principal  magistrates  and  their  families,  which  would  easily 
dishearten  the  others.  As  soon  as  the  Sabbath  was  over,  Ludlow  rode  to 
New  Haven  and  found  that  an  Indian  from  Long  Island  had  discovered 
the  same  to  Governor  Eaton,  and  that  "  upon  Miantonimo's  sending  the 
head  &  hands  of  an  Englishman  to  Long  Island,  which  were  to  be  sent 
among  all  the  Indians  on  the  island,  they  were  to  do  the  same,  &  send  a 
head  &  hands  to  Miantonimo,  meaning  to  knit  them  together."  The 
next  day  Governor  Ludlow  went  to  Hartford,  where  an  Indian  of  note, 
who  it  was  feared  would  die  of  wounds,  sent  for  Thomas  Stanton  and  dis- 
closed the  same  facts,  f 

At  this  critical  moment  a  special  General  Court  assembled  at  Hartford, 
and  agreed  that  a  letter  should  be  sent  forthwith  to  the  Bay,  notifying  them 
of  the  impending  danger.  The  clerks  of  the  bands  in  each  town  were 
ordered  to  be  placed  under  oath  by  the  governor,  or  some  magistrate  to 
examine  every  man's  arms  to  ascertain  the  quantity  of  their  powder  and 
bullets,  to  take  notice  of  all  such  as  absented  themselves  at  times  of 
training,  and  to  make  a  report  of  the  same  to  the  next  court.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  towns  were  not  allowed'  to  permit  the  Indians  to  enter 
their  houses  ;  and  the  magistrates  were  prohibited  from  admitting  more 
than  one  sachem,  provided  he  came  only  with  two  men.  A  guard  of  forty 
men  "  complete  in  their  arms  "  was  stationed  around  the  meeting-houses 
evcr^  Sabbath  and  lecture  day.  Each  member  of  the  court  agreed  to  take 
an  oath  to  keep  secret  their  determination  to  defeat  the  plot  of  the  Indians. 
The  General  Court  assembled  again  on  the  8th  of  September,  and  passed 
the  following  resolution  : 

"  Forasmuch  as  the  Indians  have  grown  Insolent  &  comhyne  themselves  together, 
being  suspected  to  prepare  for  war.  It  is  ordered  that  no  Smith  within  these  liberties 
shall  trade  any  instrument,  or  matter  made  of  iron  or  steele  with  them,  nor  deliver  any 
that  are  already  made,  without  lycense  from  two  Magistrates,  nor  buy  any  of  their  venison 
without  further  liberty  be  granted." 

It  was  ordered,  that  every  town  should  be  provided  within  fourteen 
days  "  with  twenty  half  pikes  of  ten  foot  in  length,  at  least  in  the  wood  :  " 

*  John  Olclham  was  murdered  by  the  Indians  at  Block  Island  in  1635. — Trumbull's  Hist. 
Conn.,  i,  62.  f  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  v.  3,  s.  3,  161. 


1642]  DISCOVERY  AND   SETTLEMENT  29 

Also,  that  each  plantation  should  have  two  ward-men  to  give  notice  of 
sudden  danger  ;  to  execute  the  order  about  admitting  Indians  into  the 
plantations  ;  and  that  a  competent  number  of  men  should  be  daily  kept 
on  guard.  New  Haven  also  became  agitated  by  the  hostile  attitude  of 
Governor  Keift,  who  had  dispatched  an  armed  force,  to  break  up  the 
settlements  in  Delaware.  Their  trading  houses  were  burned  and  several 
English  planters  imprisoned.  The  damage  done  amounted  to  about  a 
thousand  pounds.*  One  of  the  principal  gentlemen  of  New  Haven,  by 
the  name  of  Lamberton,  was  made  an  object  of  special  indignities,  and 
even  an  attempt  made  upon  his  life.  Both  Connecticut  and  New  Haven 
made  fruitless  efforts  to  obtain  redress.  In  the  mean  time  they  resolved 
to  prepare  for  what  seemed  to  be  an  inevitable  war.  On  the  4th  of  October 
the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  ordered  that  "  there  shall  be  90 
coats  provided  within  these  plantations  within  ten  days,  basted  with  cot- 
ton wool,  &  made  defensive  against  Indian  arrows." 

Fairfield,  while  but  a  small  plantation,  and  not  yet  subject  to  taxation 
or  full  representation  according  to  the  laws  of  the  colony,  was  not  called 
upon  to  furnish  men.  The  planters  were  simply  left  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves as  best  they  could.  The  consternation  among  them,  however,  upon 
the  discovery  of  the  Indian  plot  to  destroy  the  English,  must  have  been 
very  great.  The  friendly  sachem  who  had  disclosed  the  conspiracy  to 
Ludlow,  no  doubt  held  in  check  the  other  sachems  and  their  men.  An 
account  of  the  condition  of  affairs  at  this  time  at  Fairfield  is  given  in 
William  Wheeler's  Journal,  in  the  following  words  : 

"The  Indians  about  Fairfield  were  fond  of  war,  and  often  soliciting  the  Old  Indian 
chief,  for  leave  to  destroy  the  English.  Once  they  obtained  it  on  condition  of  pulling  up 
a  large  neighboring  white  oak  tree.  Well,  to  work  they  went,  and  stript  off  its  branches, 
but  still  the  trunk  baffled  their  utmost  endeavors. 

'Thus,'  says  the  Old  Sachem,  'will  be  the  end  of  your  war.  You  may  kill  some  of 
their  pappooses,  but  the  old  plaguey  stump  tother  side  the  great  waters  will  remain  and 
send  out  more  branches.'  " 

With  that  marvelous  energy  which  Ludlow  possessed,  and  which 
enabled  him  to  be  prepared  for  every  emergency,  he  used  all  the  pacific 
measures  necessary  to  keep  peace  with  the  Indians  in  Fairfield  and  its 
vicinity,  which  he  happily  effected.  The  increasing  population  of  the 
plantations,  and  the  beginnings  of  new  settlements,  brought  the  necessity 
of  an  effort  to  secure  further  progress  in  law  and  jurisprudence.  A  body 

*Trumbuirs  Hist.  Conn.,  i,  119.  Smith's  History  of  New  York,  p.  4.  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's 
History  of  New  York  City,  I,  97,  116.  Bryant's  History  of  the  United  States,  i.  Chapter,  17.  Rec. 
United  Colonies. 


30  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1642 

of  capital  laws  which  had  been  prepared  were  submitted  to  the  General 
Court  in  December.  They  were  founded  upon  the  Scriptures,  and  were 
twelve  in  number.  Although  these  laws  were  very  severe,  they  were  in 
reality  much  more  lenient  than  the  laws  of  the  Massachusetts  colony;  and 
contrast  in  a  remarkable  manner  with  the  capital  laws  of  England,  where 
so  many  offenses  were  punished  with  death.* 

Although  a  cloud  of  threatened  annihilation  at  the  hand  of  the  Indians 
hung  over  all  the  New  England  settlements,  prosperity  had  crowned  the 
unwearying  toil  of  the  planters  with  an  abundant  harvest.  Each  settle- 
ment presented  an  orderly,  thrifty  aspect,  and  "  the  wilderness  now  blos- 
somed as  the  rose."  The  true  condition  of  the  settlements  at  this  time 
is  given  by  one  of  the  most  graphic  writers  of  those  clays.  In  enumerat- 
ing the  blessings  which  had  followed  the  labors  of  the  planters,  he  says  : 
"  First,  to  begin  with  the  encrease  of  food,  you  have  heard  in  what  extream 
penu-ry  these  people  were  in  at  first,  planting  for  want  of  food,  gold,  silver, 
rayments  or  whatsoever  was  precious  in  their  eyes  they  parted  with, 
(when  ships  came  in)  for  this  their  beast  that  died,  some  would  stick 
before  they  were  cold,  and  sell  their  poor  pined  flesh  for  food  at  6  d. 
per  pound,  Indian  Beans  at  16.  s.  per  bushel  ;  when  Ships  came  in,  it 
grieved  some  Masters  to  see  the  urging  of  them  by  people  of  good  rank 
and  quality  to  sell  bread  unto  them.  But  now  take  notice  how  the  right 
hand  of  the  Most  High  hath  altered  all,  and  men  of  the  meaner  rank  are 
urging  them  to  buy  bread  of  them  ;  and  now  good  white  and  wheaten 
bread  is  no  dainty,  but  even  ordinary  man  hath  his  choice,  if  gay  cloathing, 
and  a  liquerish  tooth  after  sack,  sugar  and  plums  lick  not  away  his  bread 
too  fast,  all  which  arc  but  ordinary  among  those  that  were  not  able  to 
bring  their  ownc  persons  over  at  their  first  coming  ;  there  are  not  many 
Towns  in  the  Country,  but  the  poorest  person  in  them  hath  a  house  and 
land  of  his  own,  and  bread  of  his  own  growing,  if  not  somecattel  :  beside, 
flesh  is  now  no  rare  food,  beef,  pork,  and  mutton  being  frequent  in  many 
houses,  so  that  this  poor  Wilderness  hath  not  only  equalized  England  in 
food,  but  goes  beyond  it  in  some  places  for  the  great  plenty  of  wine  and 
sugar,  which  is  ordinarily  spent ;  apples,  pears,  and  quince  tarts  instead  of 
their  former  Pumpkin  Pie.  Poultry  they  have  plenty,  and  great  rarity  ; 
and  in  their  feasts  have  not  forgotten  the  English  fashion  of  stirring  up 
their  appetites  with  variety  of  cooking  their  food  ;  and  notwithstanding 
all  this  great  and  almost  miraculous  work  of  the  Lord,  in  providing  for 

*  No  less  than  thirty-one  kinds  of  crime  were  punished  with  death  in  England  at  the  end  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  reign,  which  afterwards  were  more  cruel  and  increased  in  numbers. — Palfrey 
Hist..  New  England,  II,  27. 


1642]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  31 

his  people  in  this  barren  desart,  yet  are  there  here  (as  in  other  places)  some 
that  use  these  good  creatures  of  God  to  excess,  and  others  to  hoard  up  in 
a  wretched  and  miserable  manner,  pinch  themselves  and  their  children 
with  food,  and  will  not  taste  of  the  good  creatures  God  hath  given  for  that 
end,  but  cut  Church  and  Commonwealth  as  short  also  :  Let  no  such  think 
to  escape  the  Lord's  hand  with  as  little  a  stroke  as  the  like  do  in  other 
places. 

Secondly,  For  rayment,  our  cloth  had  not  been  cut  short,  as  but  of 
late  years  the  traders  that  way  have  encreased  to  such  a  number,  that  their 
shops  have  continued  full  all  the  year  long,  all  one  England ;  besides  the 
Lord  hath  been  pleased  to  encrease  sheep  extraordinarily  of  late,  hemp 
and  flax  here  is  great  plenty  ;  hides  here  are  more  for  the  number  of  per- 
sons than  in  England;  and  for  cloth,  here  is  and  would  be  materials 
enough  to  make  it;  but  the  Farmers  deem  it  better  for  their  profit  to 
put  away  their  cattel  and  corn  for  cloathing,  than  to  set  upon  making 
of  cloth  ;  if  the  Merchant's  trade  be  not  kept  on  foot,  they  fear  greatly 
their  corne  and  cattel  will  lye  in  their  hands:  assuredly  the  plenty  of 
cloathing  hath  caused  much  excess  of  late  in  those  persons,  who  have 
clambered  with  excess  in  wages  for  their  work,  but  seeing  it  will  be  the 
theam  of  our  next  discourse,  after  the  birds  are  settled,  it  may  be  here 
omitted. 

Further,  the  Lord  hath  been  pleased  to  turn  all  the  wigwams,  huts,  and 
hovels  the  English  dwelt  in  at  their  first  coming,  into  orderly,  fair,  and 
well-built  houses,  well  furnished  many  of  them,  together  with  Orchards 
filled  with  goodly  fruit  trees,  and  gardens  with  variety  of  flowers:  There 
are  supposed  to  be  in  the  Massachusets  Government  at  this  day,  neer  a 
thousand  acres  of  land  planted  for  Orchards  and  Gardens,  besides  their 
fields  are  filled  with  garden  fruit,  there  being,  as  is  supposed  in  this  Colony 
about  fifteen  thousand  acres  in  tillage,  and  of  cattle  about  twelve  thou- 
sand neat,  and  about  three  thousand  sheep:  Thus  hath  the  Lord  incouraged 
his  people  with  the  encrease  of  the  general,  although  many  particulars  are 
outed,  hundreds  of  pounds,  and  some  thousands,  yet  are  there  many  hun- 
dreds of  labouring  men,  who  had  not  enough  to  bring  them  over,  yet  now 
v/orth  scores,  and  some  hundreds  of  pounds. 

This  spring  Covves  and  Cattle  of  that  kind  (having  continued  at  an  ex- 
cessive price  so  long  as  any  came  over  with  estates  to  purchase  them),  fell 
of  a  suddain  in  one  week  from  £22  the  Cow,  to  6,  7,  or  £8  the  Cow  at  most, 
insomuch  that  it  made  all  men  admire  how  it  came  to  pass,  it  being  the 
common  practise  of  those  that  had  any  store  of  Cattel,  to  sell  every  year 
a  Cow  or  two,  which  cloath'd  their  backs,  fil'd  their  bellies  with  more 


32  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1643 

varieties  than  the  Country  of  itself  afforded,  and  put  gold  and  silver  in 
their  purses  beside."* 

Fairfield  and  the  other  Connecticut  settlements,  in  a  measure  enjoyed 
the  prosperity  of  the  older  towns,  from  which  the  planters  purchased  cattle, 
etc.,  at  the  low  rates  above  mentioned.  In  this  way,  however,  considerable 
wealth  passed  out  of  the  colony. 

In  order  to  promote  the  shipping  interests  of  Connecticut,  the  General 
Court  passed  a  law,  that  all  persons  who  had  hemp  seed  should  either  sow 
it  themselves,  or  sell  it  to  others,  for  furnishing  "  cordage  towards  rigging 
of  ships."  Summer  wheat  in  December  was  rated  at  45.  ^d.  a  bushel  ; 
rye  at  $s.  6d.  ;  peas,  3.9.  6d.;  Indian  corn  2s.  8</.  The  constables  of  the 
towns  were  ordered  to  receive  produce  only  at  these  rates,  or  in  wampum 
"  at  6  a-penny."  Pipe-staves  were  ordered  to  be  4  feet  6  inches  in  length, 
and  in  breadth  and  thickness  the  same  as  before.  Good  reals  of  8/8,  and 
Rix  dollars,  were  to  be  received  and  passed  at  five  shillings  apiece.f 

A  still  more  stringent  law  was  enacted  against  selling  arms  or  repairing 
them  for  the  Indians.  A  fine  of  ten  pounds  was  levied  upon  any  one 
disposed  to  evade  this  law  without  a  license  from  the  particular  court,  or 
from  two  magistrates  for  every  gun  sold  ;  five  pounds  for  every  pound  of 
powder  ;  forty  shillings  for  every  pound  of  bullets  or  lead.  Where  a  fine 
could  not  be  obtained,  corporal  punishment  was  ordered  to  be  adminis- 
tered, at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

At  the  court  of  election  held  April  13,  Ludlow  was  elected  an  assist- 
ant and  Henry  Gray  a  deputy  for  Fairfield.  A  general  confederation  of 
the  colonies  for  mutual  protection  had  been  agitated  for  some  time,  and 
now  became  a  question  of  great  moment  throughout  New  England.  In 
the  month  of  March,  John  Haynes  and  William  Hopkins  were  appointed 
to  go  to  Massachusetts  to  effect  this  end,  with  instructions  "  to  reserve  the 
privileges  of  our  fundamental  laws."  Governor  Fenwick,  who  was  in  charge 
of  the  fort  and  plantation  at  Saybrook  and  vicinity,  was  invited  to  join 
the  confederation,  with  the  promise  that  none  of  his  privileges  should  be 
infringed  upon.  That  justice  might  be  fairly  meted  out  in  cases  of  jurispru- 
dence, the  subject  of  juries  also  became  one  of  consideration.  Juries  appear 
to  have  existed  from  about  1640,  as  attendants  upon  the  particular  courts. 

In  the  month  of  May  the  effort  to  bring  about  a  general  confederation 
of  the  colonies  was  most  timely  and  happily  effected.  As  early  as  1638 
articles  of  confederation  for  mutual  protection,  offense  and  defense,  advice 

*  Johnson's  Wonder  Working  Providence.     Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  Vol.  7,  S.  2,  35-38. 
fReal — a  small  Spanish    coin    valued  at  about    2\   pence    sterling.     A  Rix  dollar — a  German, 
Holland,  Denmark,  and  Sweeden  coin,  valued  from  60  cents  to  $1.08,  in  the  different  countries. 


1643]  DISCOVERY    AND    SETTLEMENT  33 

and  assistance  upon  all  necessary  occasions  were  drawn.  Mr.  Fenwick, 
then  governor  at  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  upon  certain  terms  agreed  to  con- 
federate with  the  other  colonies  to  bring  about  the  union.  In  1639  a 
month  had  been  spent  by  Governor  Haynes  and  Mr.  Hooker  in  Massa- 
chusetts for  this  purpose.  The  affairs  in  England  and  those  of  New  Eng- 
land made  it  a  matter  of  necessity  that  His  Majesty's  colonies  in  America 
should  unite  for  mutual  protection  and  defense.  Contrary  to  the  first  in- 
tentions of  the  pioneers  of  New  England,  the  settlements  had  been  ex- 
tended along  the  rivers  and  upon  the  sea  coast,  so  that  some  of  them  were 
particularly  exposed  and  defenseless  against  attacks  from  the  Indians  or 
foreign  foes. 

The  difficulty  which  had  previously  prevented  this  union  arose  from 
an  inability  to  agree  upon  equal  terms  with  Massachusetts,  which  was  the 
strongest  and  most  arbitrary  of  the  colonies.  A  variance  existed  between 
that  colony  and  Connecticut,  on  account  of  the  former  claiming  part  of 
the  Pequot  country  by  right  of  assistance  and  conquest.  They  also  had 
trouble  in  regard  to  their  boundaries,  both  colonies  claiming  Springfield 
and  Westfield.  Notwithstanding  their  disagreements,  in  the  month  of 
May,  commissioners  were  sent  from  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  to  Bos- 
ton during  the  session  of  the  General  Court.  A  spirit  of  harmony  and 
mutual  conciliation  appears  to  have  controlled  their  meeting  ;  and  on  the 
iQth  of  May  articles  of  agreement  were  signed  by  the  colonies  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut  and  New  Haven.  They  "  entered  into  a  firm  and 
perpetual  league  of  friendship  and  amity,  of  offence  and  defence,  mutual 
aid  and  succour  upon  all  just  occasions,  both  for  preserving  and  propagat- 
ing the  truth  and  liberty  of  the  gospel,  and  for  their  own  mutual  safety 
and  welfare,"  under  the  name  of  The  United  Colonies  of  New  England. 
Commissioners  were  present  from  Plymouth,  but  they  did  not  sign  the 
articles  of  agreement,  as  they  had  not  been  authorized  to  do  so ;  but  at 
the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  in  September,  they  came  vested  with 
plenary  power  and  added  their  signatures. 

The  articles  agreed  upon  reserved  to  each  colony  an  entire  and  distinct 
jurisdiction,  and  no  two  of  them  could  be  united  into  one,  nor  any  other 
colony  received  into  the  confederacy  without  the  consent  of  the  whole. 
Two  commissioners,  who  were  required  to  be  church  members,  were  to  be 
chosen  annually  from  each  of  the  colonies,  to  meet  on  the  first  Monday  in 
September,  first  at  Boston  and  afterwards  at  New  Haven,  Hartford  or 
Plymouth.  A  president  was  to  be  chosen  from  among  themselves,  and 
they  were  vested  with  plenary  power  to  declare  war  and  peace,  and  to 
make  laws  and  rules  of  a  civil  nature.  All  decisions  made  by  the  com- 
3 


34  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1643 

missioners  were  binding  upon  the  colonies;  except  in  case  of  disagree- 
ment or  a  majority  under  six,  when  the  affair  was  to  be  referred  to  the 
General  Court  of  each  colony;  and  could  not  be  settled  until  the  courts 
arrived  at  a  unanimous  agreement.  Any  breach  of  this  compact  on  the 
part  of  one  of  the  colonies  to  the  injury  of  another,  was  to  be  settled  by 
the  other  three  colonies.  Provision  was  made  in  regard  to  Indian  fugi- 
tives from  justice,  and  servants  escaping  from  their  masters.  The  expense 
of  war  was  to  be  shared  by  each  of  the  colonies  in  proportion  to  its  ratable 
list  of  male  inhabitants  from  sixteen  to  sixty  years  of  age.  No  one 
colony  could  engage  in  a  war  without  the  consent  of  the  others.  If  any 
of  the  colonies  were  invaded,  their  magistrates  were  to  notify  the  other 
colonies,  which  were  to  send  immediate  relief — Massachusetts  a  hundred 
and  each  of  the  others  fifty-five  men,  and  more  if  necessary,  according  to 
the  determination  of  the  commissioners.  Should  an  emergency  occur,  or 
sudden  danger  arise,  by  which  all  the  commissioners  should  not  have  time 
to  meet,  four  might  determine  upon  a  war. 

This  union  was  one  of  great  importance  to  the  New  England  colonies. 
It  made  them  formidable  at  home  and  abroad.  The  Indians  and  Dutch 
were  held  in  check.  It  also  called  forth  the  respect  of  their  French  neigh- 
bors. Through  the  vicissitudes  of  forty  years,  it  proved  of  the  greatest 
advantage  to  all  the  colonies,  and  remained  in  force  until  King  James  II. 
abrogated  their  charters."1'  The  first  notice  of  the  existence  of  a  grand 
jury  is  given  at  an  extra  session  of  the  General  Court  held  July  5,  when  it 
was  ordered  that  a  grand  jury  of  twelve  men  should  attend  the  particular 
court  annually  in  May  and  September,  and  as  often  as  the  governor  and 
court  should  have  occasion  to  call  them  together.  At  all  times  they  were 
to  be  warned  to  give  their  attendance. 

To  prevent  ill-advised  marriages,  the  following  law  was  passed: 

"Whereas,  the  prosperity  &  well  being  of  Comon  weles  doth  much  depend  vppon 
the  well  gouerment  &  ordering  of  particular  Familyes,  wch  in  an  ordinary  way  cannot  be 
expected  where  the  rules  of  God  are  neglected  in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  family  state  ; 
For  the  preuention  therefore  of  such  evells  &  inconueniences,  w=h  by  experience  are  found 
not  only  to  be  creeping  in,  but  practised  by  some  in  that  kynd,  It  is  Ordered,  that  no 
prson  whatsoeuer,  male  or  female,  not  being  at  his  or  her  owne  dispose,  or  that  remayn- 
eth  under  the  gouerment  of  parents,  masters  or  gardians  or  such  like,  shall  ether  make, 
or  giue  er.tertaynement  to  any  motion  or  sute  in  way  of  mariedge,  wthout  the  knowledge 
&  consent  of  those  they  stand  in  such  relation  to,  vnder  the  seuere  censure  of  the  Courte, 
in  case  of  delinquency  not  attending  this  order;  nor  shall  any  third  prson  or  prsons  inter- 
medle  in  making  any  motion  to  any  such,  wthout  the  knowledge  &  consent  of  those 
vnder  whose  gouerment  they  are,  vnder  the  same  penalty."  f 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn  ,  i.,  124-128.         f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i.,  92. 


i643j  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  35 

The  alarm  of  a  general  insurrection  among  the  Indians  increased, 
Miantonimo  arrogantly  proclaimed  himself  to  be  the  chief  sachem  of  all 
the  New  England  tribes.  Notwithstanding  his  treaty  with  the  English  at 
Hartford  in  1638,  at  which  time  the  conquered  Pequots  were  divided 
between  him  and  Uncas,  he  exhibited  a  spirit  of  great  hostility  towards 
Uncas,  upon  whom  he  visited  his  old  hatred  of  the  Pequots.  His  rancor- 
ous jealousy  led  him  to  plot  against  him,  and  to  instigate  others  to  acts  of 
treachery  and  murder.  At  the  same  time  he  continued  by  art  and  intrigue 
to  excite  the  Indians  throughout  New  England  to  exterminate  the  whites. 
Many  of  the  Indians  had  purchased  guns  and  ammunition  of  the  Dutch 
and  French.  They  were  exceedingly  warlike  in  their  demeanor,  and  great 
fears  existed  of  a  speedy  attack  upon  all  the  white  settlements. 

In  July  the  General  Court  ordered  that  every  plantation  should  be  fully 
prepared  for  any  emergency,  and  fines  levied  if  the  previous  orders  in 
this  respect  were  not  fully  carried  out.  Letters  were  sent  to  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  requesting  that  one  hundred  men  should  be  sent 
to  assist  the  garrison  at  the  fort  at  Saybrook.  This  demand  was  refused 
for  the  time  being,  on  the  ground  of  inexpediency.  In  the  mean  time  the 
Dutch  Governor  had  sent  a  letter  of  congratulation  to  Governor  Winthrop 
on  the  union  of  the  colonies.  He  complained  of  most  grievous  misrep- 
resentations on  the  part  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  to  their  agents  in 
Europe.  He  requested  to  learn  the  spirit  of  the  colonies  towards  him, 
"  that  he  might  know  who  were  his  friends  or  his  foes."  Governor  Win- 
throp replied  to  this  letter,  expressing  his  deep  regret  that  any  difference 
existed  between  the  English  and  the  Dutch ;  and  suggested  that  their 
trouble  should  be  settled  either  in  England,  Holland  or  America;  that 
while  the  articles  of  confederation  bound  the  colonies  in  New  England 
in  a  bond  of  mutual  protection,  he  hoped  the  old  friendship  between  them 
and  the  Dutch  would  remain  uninterrupted. 

About  this  time  an  attempt  was  made  by  Miantonimo  to  murder  Uncas. 
A  report  soon  spread  that  the  murder  had  been  committed;  and  Mianto- 
nimo in  order  to  hide  his  own  treachery,  killed  the  Indian  whom  he  had 
employed  to  commit  the  act.  Sequin  also  joined  in  the  plot  against  Uncas 
and  the  white  planters.  No  sooner  had  this  intelligence  reached  the  set- 
tlements, than  it  was  discovered  that  Miantonimo  was  marching  upon  the 
Mohegans  with  an  army  of  nine  hundred  men.  Uncas  having  been  made 
aware  of  his  approach,  resolved  that  the  Narragansetts  should  not  enter 
his  town.  He  hastily  called  together  between  four  and  five  hundred  of 
his  men  and  went  out  to  meet  the  enemy.  A  battle  took  place  about  four 
miles  from  the  town  in  which  he  lived.  The  Narragansetts  were  put  to 


36  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1643 

flight ;  Miantonimo  was  taken  prisoner,  and  carried  in  triumph  to  Hart- 
ford. He  begged  that  he  might  be  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  English,  but 
at  the  request  of  Uncas,  it  was  decided  that  he  should  be  kept  as  his 
prisoner. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  at  Bos- 
ton in  September  the  conspiracy  of  Miantonimo  against  Uncas  and  the 
whites,  and  the  murders  he  had  committed,  were  proved.  Lest  the  Narra- 
gansetts  and  the  tribes  tributary  to  them,  should  seek  to  avenge  the  death 
of  their  chief,  it  was  decided  to  give  him  up  to  the  mercy  of  Uncas,  with 
the  request  that  no  torture  or  cruelty  should  be  used,  "  but  all  moderation 
exercised  in  the  manner  of  his  execution."  It  was  also  decided  that  the 
colonies  should  assist  in  protecting  Uncas  against  the  Narragansetts,  if 
they  attempted  to  revenge  upon  him  the  death  of  Miantonimo,  and  "  that 
Hartford  furnish  Uncas  with  a  competent  strength  of  English  to  defend 
him  against  any  present  fury  or  assault  of  the  Narragansetts  or  any  oth- 
ers." The  outrages  of  the  Dutch  upon  the  New  Haven  settlements  at 
Delaware,  and  those  upon  the  Connecticut  river  towns  and  on  Long  Island 
were  laid  before  the  commissioners  by  Governor  Hopkins  and  Mr.  Fen- 
wick.  It  was  decided  that,  as  Governor  Winthrop  had  previously  in  part 
answered  the  Dutch  governor's  letter,  he  should  continue  a  further  reply, 
by  stating  the  injuries  done  by  the  Dutch  to  the  English  planters,  and  de- 
mand satisfaction  ;  and  that  while  the  united  colonies  would  not  wrong 
others,  they  should  defend  each  other  in  a  just  cause. 

The  death  of  Miantonimo  having  been  left  to  Uncas,  he  was  immedi- 
ately notified  of  the  decision.  With  some  of  his  most  trusty  men  to  assist 
him,  he  took  charge  of  his  prisoner;  and  with  two  Englishmen,  appointed 
to  see  that  no  tortures  were  inflicted,  they  all  marched  to  the  spot  where 
he  had  been  taken.  "  At  the  instant  they  arrived  on  the  ground,  one  of 
Uncas'  men,  who  had  marched  behind  Miantonimo,  split  his  head  with  a 
hatchet,  killing  him  at  one  stroke  -  -  Uncas  cut  out  a  large  piece  of  his 
flesh  &  ate  it  in  savage  triumph.  He  said,  'it  was  the  sweetest  meat  he 
ever  ate  ;  it  made  his  heart  strong.'  "  He  ordered  that  he  should  be  buried 
where  he  fell,  and  caused  a  heap  of  stones  to  be  erected  over  his  grave. 
The  spot  has  ever  since  been  called  Sachem's  Plain,  and  occupies  a  beau- 
tiful rise  of  ground  in  the  eastern  part  of  Norwich. 

In  accordance  with  the  resolutions  of  the  commissioners,  both  Con- 
necticut and  New  Haven  sent  armed  men  to  protect  Uncas.  Governor 
Winthrop  sent  messengers  to  Canonicus,  the  aged  Narragansett  sachem, 
acquainting  him  with  the  mischievous  plot  of  Miantonimo,  and  justifying 
his  execution  by  his  violation  of  the  treaty  of  1638,  his  attempt  to  mur- 


1643]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  37 

der  Uncas,  and  his  intrigues  against  the  whites.  They  then  offered  peace 
to  him  and  the  Narragansetts,  in  the  name  of  the  united  colonies.  The 
General  Court  of  Connecticut  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  governor,  the 
deputy-governor,  or  two  magistrates  "  upon  any  sudden  occasion  or  immi- 
nent danger  to  press  men  &  ammunition  for  the  defence  of  the  country  in 
their  necessary  travel  from  town  to  town  :  also  that  each  of  the  towns 
should  have  fixed  places,  where  guards  should  be  stationed,  from  which 
points  in  case  of  danger  the  inhabitants  might  be  given  timely  alarm." 
To  avoid  quarrels  with  the  Indians,  the  planters  were  forbidden  to  trust 
them  with  goods  or  commodities,  under  a  penalty  of  double  the  value  of 
the  sale;  and  "  that  they  should  not  trade  with  the  mat  or  in  their  wig- 
wams, but  in  vessels  or  Pinnaces,  or  at  their  own  houses,  under  a  penalty 
of  20  s.  each  time." 

In  addition  to  the  guard  of  forty  men,  it  was  ordered  that  one  man  out 
of  every  family  should  go  fully  armed  to  the  meeting-house  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  lecture  days,  under  a  fine  of  \2d.  for  every  neglect  of  the  same, 
"  whereof  6  d.  was  to  be  paid  to  the  party  that  should  so  inform,  &  6  d. 
to  the  public  treasury."  A  tax  of  forty  pounds  was  levied  on  all  the  towns 
for  repairing  the  fort  at  Saybrook.  According  to  the  determination  of 
the  commissioners,  the  soldiers  in  each  of  the  towns  were  required  to 
train  six  days  in  the  year,  which  days  should  be  appointed  by  the  captains 
or  chief  officers  of  the  train  bands,  namely,  on  the  first  weeks  of  March, 
April,  May,  September,  October  and  November.  "  If  the  day  appointed 
proved  unseasonable,  the  Officers  were  to  appoint  the  next  fair  day." 
Eight  o'clock  was  the  hour  set  for  the  training  to  begin.  Those  who  were 
absent  on  such  occasions  were  to  be  fined  2s.  6d.  for  every  default,  except 
they  had  been  given  a  license  for  leave  of  absence  under  the  hand  of  two 
magistrates.  The  clerks  of  the  bands  were  to  levy  upon  the  delinquents 
within  fourteen  days  after  the  forfeiture,  and  to  take  6d.  for  themselves, 
and  pay  the  remainder  towards  the  maintainance  of  drums,  colors,  etc.  If 
the  clerks  neglected  their  duty,  they  were  obliged  to  pay  double  the 
amount  of  the  soldier's  fine.  Those  who  were  deemed  expert  soldiers 
were  allowed  release  on  half  a  day's  duty.  Roger  Ludlow  was  appointed 
to  call  forth  the  soldiers  of  the  towns  "  upon  the  sea  coast,"  and  to  exer- 
cise them  according  to  the  above  act,  until  some  other  officer  should  be 
appointed  in  his  place.  Thus  Ludlow  was  not  only  the  first  judge  of  the 
town  and  county  court,  but  the  first  military  officer  of  Fairfield.  In  this 
dread  hour,  when  the  inhabitants  were  few  in  numbers,  upon  Ludlow  fell 
the  care  and  protection  of  the  plantation  of  Uncoway.  Upon  the  Meeting- 
house green  he  assembled  his  small  band  of  officers  and  men  at  home, 


38  HISTORY    OF  FAIRFIELD  [1643 

with  the  planters  from  the  neighboring  towns,  and  drilled  them  for  the 
hour  of  approaching  danger.  Several  within  the  past  two  years  had  joined 
the  plantation,  so  that  there  were  enough  men  to  make  a  considerable 
show  of  resistance. 

The  appearance  of  an  English  soldier  in  those  days  was  a  formidable 
one  to  the  red  sons  of  the  forest.  His  gay,  military  dress ;  his  long  pike  of 
ten  feet,  tipped  with  sharp-pointed  iron,  which  he  carried  in  a  rest  fastened 
to  a  belt  around  his  waist ;  his  sword  hanging  in  its  scabbard  at  his  side, 
and  his  long  musket  and  steel  bayonet,  made  him  a  spectacle  of  admiration 
and  dread.  But  now  that  the  Indians  possessed  English  muskets,  which 
they  used  with  great  skill,  their  attitude  was  one  more  dangerous  than  ever 
before. 

During  this  year  the  Dutch  had  cause  to  deplore  the  great  wrong  done 
by  their  traders,  in  selling  arms  to  the  Indians.  A  quarrel  had  arisen 
owing  to  a  drunken  Indian  having  killed  one  of  their  number.  The  Dutch 
demanded  that  the  murderer  should  be  given  up  to  justice  ;  but  their 
governor,  not  willing  to  excite  the  Indians,  neglected  to  take  steps  in  the 
case.  In  the  mean  time,  some  of  the  Dutch  excited  the  Mohawks  against 
the  Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  their  settlements,  who,  in  an  unexpected 
moment,  fell  upon  them,  killing  about  thirty  of  their  number.  A  Dutch 
captain,  named  Marine,  obtained  a  commission  from  the  governor  to  kill 
as  many  Indians  as  fell  in  his  power.  With  a  company  of  armed  men 
he  made  a  sudden  attack  upon  them  and  killed  about  seventy  or  eighty 
men,  women  and  children.  The  Indians,  now  fully  aroused  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  began  a  furious  and  bloody  war.  They  seized  the  Dutch 
cattle  and  hogs  and  burned  them  in  their  barns.  Twenty  or  more  Dutch- 
men were  killed  and  others  fled  to  their  fort  for  protection.  The  Indians 
upon  Long  Island  joined  in  the  war,  and  burned  the  houses  and  barns  of 
the  Dutch  planters.  At  this  critical  moment,  the  Dutch  governor  made 
application  to  Governor  Eaton,  of  New  Haven,  to  send  one  hundred  men 
to  his  relief.  In  his  extremity  he  also  applied  to  Captain  Underhill,  of 
Stamford,  to  assist  him,  which  so  exasperated  Captain  Marine,  that  he 
presented  his  pistol  at  the  governor,  and  would  have  shot  him  had  he  not 
been  prevented  by  one  who  stood  near.  One  of  Captain  Marine's  attend- 
ants discharged  his  musket  at  the  governor,  and  the  ball  hardly  grazed 
him,  when  the  man  himself  was  shot  dead  by  a  sentinel.  Those  among 
the  Dutch  who  had  been  determined  upon  a  war  with  the  Indians,  now 
dreading  its  consequences,  vented  their  indignation  upon  the  governor  for 
having  given  a  commission  to  Captain  Marine.  In  their  fury  they  were 
ready  to  destroy  him,  and  for  his  personal  safety  he  was  obliged  to  keep  a 


1643]  DISCOVERY    AND    SETTLEiMENT  39 

guard  of  fifty  Englishmen  about  him.  The  Indians  continued  their  dep- 
redations and  murders,  so  that  by  fall  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Dutch 
and  English  settlements  west  of  Stamford  were  driven  in. 

Among  those  most  cruelly  murdered,  at  this  time,  was  Mrs.  Anne  Hutch- 
inson,  who  for  her  religious  tenets  had  been  banished  from  Boston.  Not 
only  she,  but  every  member  of  her  household,  her  son-in-law,  Mr.  Collins, 
and  several  neighbors  were  killed,  numbering  eighteen  in  all.  The  fury  of 
the  Indians  made  great  havoc  among  the  cattle  and  the  ingatherings  of 
the  summer  harvest,  which  were  burned  without  resistance. 

The  Dutch  on  Long  Island  who  had  been  obliged  to  escape  from  their 
plantations  to  their  fort,  were  driven  to  the  necessity  of  killing  their  cattle 
for  subsistence,  until  their  condition  became  one  of  great  distress,  and  one 
which  called  for  Christian  aid  from  their  English  neighbors. 

New  Haven  had  refused  to  send  men  to  the  assistance  of  the  Dutch 
governor,  upon  the  ground  that  it  was  incompatible  with  the  articles  of 
confederation.  They  also  questioned  the  justice  of  this  war.  Neverthe- 
less, it  was  decided  to  send  them  all  the  corn  and  provisions  necessary  for 
themselves  and  their  cattle.  Captain  Underbill,  of  Stamford,  rendered 
them  great  assistance.  With  a  flying  army  of  from  one  hundred  and 
twenty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  English  and  Dutch,  he  protected  their 
settlements  from  total  annihilation.  It  was  estimated  that  he  killed  about 
five  hundred  Indians  on  Long  Island.  The  Stamford  Indians  caught  the 
war  spirit  of  the  neighboring  tribes,  and  fears  were  entertained  that  the 
settlement  would  be  cut  off.  In  their  distress  they  called  upon  New 
Haven  to  protect  them,  according  to  the  articles  of  confederation,  or  bear 
the  expense  of  their  losses.  The  Narragansetts  were  enraged  at  the 
execution  of  Miantonimo.  Every  white  man  bore  arms,  and  the  gloom  of  a 
speedy  conflict  with  the  Indians  on  all  sides,  filled  the  hearts  of  the  whites 
with  the  greatest  apprehensions. 

The  General  Court  of  Connecticut  appointed  Wednesday,  the  6th  of 
June,  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  all  the  towns  throughout  the  juris- 
diction. The  same  day  was  observed  in  the  New  Haven  plantations. 
Prayers  were  also  offered  for  their  gracious  sovereign,  King  Charles  I., 
around  whom  raged  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war.  So  great  was  the  alarm 
among  the  chief  officers  of  the  colony,  that,  on  the  3d  of  January,  the 
General  Court  of  Connecticut  ordered  "one  day  in  each  month  to  be  set 
apart  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer,  according  to  the  course 
of  their  neighbors  in  New  Haven,  to  begin  upon  Wednesday,  the  10. 
inst."  From  Stamford  the  war  spirit  reached  the  Indians  at  Fairfield. 

In  the  spring  a  man  from  Massachusetts  was   murdered  by  an  Indian 


40  HISTORY   OF   FAIRF1ELD  [1644 

near  Stratford.  Ludlow  demanded  that  the  murderer  should  be  given 
up  to  justice.  This  the  Indians  agreed  to  do,  and  desired  that  ten  men 
should  be  sent  out  to  receive  him.  When  they  saw  the  Englishmen 
approaching  them,  by  mutual  consent  they  unbound  the  prisoner,  who 
forthwith  plunged  into  the  forest  and  made  good  his  escape. 

Ludlow  regarded  this  treacherous  act  to  be  an  insult  to  the  town, 
seized  eight  or  ten  Indians,  one  or  two  of  whom  were  sachems,  and 
imprisoned  them,  until  the  murderer  should  be  brought  to  him.  The 
Indians  then  rose  in  the  most  hostile  manner.  Ludlow  wrote  to  New 
Haven  for  advice  and  assistance.  Twenty  well-armed  men  were  dispatched 
to  his  relief.  In  the  mean  time  four  of  the  neighboring  sachems  entered 
the  town,  and  promised  Ludlow  that  if  the  imprisoned  Indians  were 
released,  they  would  deliver  up  the  murderer  to  justice  within  a  month. 
This  proposition  was  agreed  upon,  and  the  prisoners  were  released,  but 
there  seems  to  be  no  evidence  that  they  kept  their  word. 

The  rise  of  the  Indians  in  Virginia  and  the  horrible  massacre  of  the 
whites  which  followed  gave  grounds  for  the  belief  that  a  further  combi- 
nation had  been  made  between  the  Southern  and  New  England  Indians, 
for  the  extermination  of  all  the  white  men  in  the  country.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  dangers  which  surrounded  them,  the  work  of  bringing  order  out 
of  confusion  was  continued  by  the  General  Court. 

In  order  to  prevent  unnecessary  trials  before  juries,  it  was  decided 
that  all  suits  under  405.  should  be  tried  before  the  court  of  magistrates  ; 
and  that  in  all  jury  cases  the  magistrates  should  have  power,  in  case  the 
jury  disagreed,  to  send  them  out  a  second  time.  If  they  then  disagreed, 
and  did  not  render  a  verdict  according  to  the  evidence  given  in,  the  court 
was  granted  power  to  summon  a  new  jury;  and  to  alter  the  decisions  of 
a  jury  in  amount  of  damages  given  in  "as  should  be  judged  most  equal 
and  righteous."  If  four  out  of  a  jury  of  six,  or  eight  out  of  twelve 
agreed,  their  verdict  was  to  be  decisive.  That  honesty  among  merchants 
might  be  firmly  established,  the  clerks  in  the  several  towns  were  required 
once  in  every  year,  to  appoint  a  certain  day  and  place,  to  give  timely 
notice  for  the  inhabitants  to  bring  in  their  measures  for  inspection,  that 
they  might  be  tried  and  compared  with  the  standard  weights,  measures, 
etc.  Only  such  yards,  weights  and  measures  as  had  been  sealed  were  to 
be  sold.  Good  linen  and  woolen  yarn  fell  under  a  careful  inspection. 
Any  one  failing  to  obey  orders,  was  subject,  to  a  penalty  of  \2d.  each 
default,  to  be  collected  by  the  clerks  ;  and  if  upon  trial  any  measures  were 
found  lower  than  the  standard,  they  were  to  cut  out  the  seal.  Owing 
to  the  injury  done  in  the  colony  by  sea  captains  and  such  as  sold  wine 


1644]  DISCOVERY    AND   SETTLEMENT  4! 

and  liquor  from  vessels  and  in  private  houses,  it  was  ordered  "  that  no 
person  should  sell  wine,  liquor  or  strong  water  in  any  place,  without  a 
license  from  the  particular  court,  or  from  two  magistrates." 

Seven  men  were  to  be  chosen  from  each  plantation  to  write  out  their 
individual  opinions  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  public  lands  might 
be  improved  for  the  common  good ;  and  their  decision  or  that  of  any 
five  of  them  was  to  control  the  other  planters.  This  committee  was  also 
to  order  the  common  fencing  around  land  under  cultivation.  It  was 
provided  that  any  particular  person  or  persons  should  have  liberty  to 
fence  his  own  allotments  according  to  his  or  their  discretion  by  mutual 
agreement,  notwithstanding  the  above  order. 

On  the  3d  of  June  the  following  important  act  was  passed. 

"  Whereas  many  strayngers  &  passengers  vppon  occation  haue  recourse  to  these 
Tovvnes,  are  streightened  for  \vaint  of  entertainment,  It  is  now  Ordered,  that  these 
seuerall  Townes  shall  prouide  amongst  theselues  in  each  Tovvne,  one  sufficient  inhabitant 
to  keepe  an  Ordinary,  for  provisions  &  lodgeing,  in  some  comfortable  manner,  that  such 
passengers  or  strayngers  may  know  where  to  resorte  ;  &  such  inhabitants  as  by  the 
seuerall  Townes  shall  be  chosen  for  the  said  shall  sjaruice,  be  presented  to  two  Magis- 
trats,  that  they  may  be  judged  meet  for  that  imployment  ;  &  this  to  be  effected  by  the 
severall  Townes  wth  in  one  month,  under  the  penalty  of  40  s.  a  month,  ech  month  ether 
Towne  shall  neglect  y'." 

Servants  and  apprentices  were  not  to  spend  their  time  to  their  own 
advantage,  under  a  penalty  of  serving  their  masters  threefold  the  time 
so  spent  after  their  time  of  service  had  expired.  The  clerks  in  each  of 
the  towns  were  required  to  keep  a  record  of  all  marriages  and  births 
within  three  days  after  a  marriage  or  the  birth  of  a  child.  A  penalty  of 
$s.  was  laid  upon  any  man  who  did  not  within  three  days  register  his 
marriage.  At  this  time  Ludlow  requested  an  answer  to  his  letter,  asking 
the  General  Court  to  determine  the  manner  in  which  he  should  lay  a  tax 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  and  Uncoway,  and  also  to  decide  what  he 
should  charge  for  his  services  to  the  country.  As  yet  Fairficld  had  not  been 
subject  to  a  public  tax.  According  to  the  laws  of  Connecticut,  before  a 
company  was  allowed  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  a  new  settlement,  the 
General  Court  required  that  they  should  prove  themselves  capable  of  col- 
onizing a  town  and  maintaining  a  clergyman. 

Thus  far  the  town  of  Fairfield  had  steadily  increased  in  numbers  ; 
but  as  yet  no  church  had  been  built  nor  any  regular  minister  settled  over 
the  parish.  It  was  the  custom  in  those  days  in  the  beginning  of  a  settle- 
ment for  the  ruling  elders  and  deacons  to  carry  out  the  discipline  of  the 
society,  until  the  services  of  a  pastor  could  be  secured.  The  anticipation, 


42  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1644 

however,  of  a  settled  minister,  with  an  increase  in  numbers  from  Concord, 
very  considerably  brightened  the  prospects  of  the  plantation,  so  that 
Ludlow,  eager  to  obtain  the  full  privileges  of  an  incorporated  town,  had 
applied  to  the  General  Court,  to  fix  the  amount  by  which  the  inhabitants 
should  be  taxed. 

The  heavy  taxes  at  this  time  laid  upon  the  plantations  of  Massa- 
chusetts, had  become  burdensome  to  many,  and  especially  to  the  planters 
of  Concord,  who,  to  their  great  disappointment,  "  found  the  soil  of 
that  town  very  barren  &  the  meadows  wet  &  useless."  In  1643  they 
petitioned  the  General  Court  to  abate  their  taxes  on  this  account.  An- 
other difficulty  had  also  arisen  in  regard  to  their  inability  to  support  two 
ministers.  Some  refused  to  bear  their  proportion  of  the  public  charge, 
some  removed  to  older  or  newer  settlements,  and  others  returned  to 
England,  so  that  the  town  rapidly  decreased  in  numbers. 

In  the  summer  of  1644  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  with  about  one-seventh 
or  one-eighth  of  the  planters  of  Concord  and  their  families  removed  to 
Fairfield.  The  list  of  those  who  came,  so  far  as  it  can  be  gathered  from 
authentic  sources  is  as  follows. 

Rev.  John  Jones.  Joseph  Middlebrook.* 

Thomas  Bulkley.  John  Thompkins. 

Daniel  Bulkley.  Ephraim  Wheeler. 

Thomas  Jones.  Thomas  Wheeler,  jr. 

William  Bateman.  James  Bennet. 

William  Odell.  Richard  Letten. 

John  Evarts.  Benjamin  Turney. 

Peter  Johnson.  George  Square. 

Thomas  Wheeler,  sr.,  according  to  the  Wheeler  journal,  had  joined  the 
plantation  in  1640,  and  was,  as  has  already  been  stated,  the  first  settler  at 
Black  Rock.f  Ephraim  Wheeler,  Thomas  Wheeler,  sr.,  Thomas  Wheeler, 
jr.,  William  Odell,  John  Evarts,  Joseph  Middlebrook,  James  Bennet,  Peter 
Johnson  and  Benjamin  Turney  afterwards  settled  at  Pequonnock.  There 
is  ground  for  believing  that  some  of  this  company  first  settled  at  Black- 
rock  and  very  soon  after  went  to  Pequonnock.  The  others  remained  at 
Fairfield.  Several  joined  the  settlement  this  year  from  other  towns, 
among  whom  were  William  Hill,  sr.,  his  son  William  Hill,  jr.,  Richard 
Westcoat,  John  Green,  Charles  Taintor,  Samuel  Gregory,  James  Beers, 
Jehu  and  John  Burr,  with  their  kinsman  John  Cable.  Besides  these 
there  are  others,  of  which  mention  will  be  made  hereafter.  The  Rev.  John 

""  Shattuck's  History  of  Concord. 

f  This  statement  does  not  agree  with  Shattuck  or  Savage,  yet  it  may  be  true. 


1644]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  43 

Jones  was  granted  about  seven  acres  of  land  in  the  rear  of  the  Meeting- 
house green,  six  acres  of  which  was  afterwards  called  his  orchard.*  His 
dwelling-house,  which  probably  had  been  built  before  his  coming,  stood 
back  of  Edward's  pond,  with  mere-stones  between  it  and  the  green,  run- 
ning from  the  north-west  corner  of  his  land  straight  to  Jehu  Burr's  home- 
lot.  Thomas  and  Daniel  Bulkley  were  granted  home-lots  in  the  Newton 
square,  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  green,  adjoining  the  parsonage  land. 
The  street  running  to  the  Sound  between  this  square  and  the  green  was 
given  the  name  of  Concord  street.  Thomas  Jones  was  granted  the  corner 
home-lot  south-east  of  the  Bulkleys  ;  and  William  Hill,  sr.,  a  home-lot 
north-east  of  the  Newton  square,  on  Dorchester  street,  bounded  north- 
west by  the  land  of  Peter  Johnson  and  Robert  Turney ;  south-east  by  his 
son  William  Hill,  jr.,  and  south-west  by  a  highway  running  to  the  beach. 
He  afterwards  purchased  of  Alexander  Briant,  of  Milford,  the  north-east 
corner  lot  of  the  Newton  square,  upon  which  he  lived  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  before  1650,  at  which  time  this  place  is  called  that 
of  his  widow  Sarah  Hill.  George  Hull's  home-lot  lay  north-west  of  William 
Hill's  ;  William  Bateman's  on  the  same  side  of  the  square,  between  George 
Squire's  and  a  lot  for  many  years  after  called  Lewis'  lot.f  John  Thomp- 
kins'  home-lot  lay  west  of  the  pond  afterwards  called  Hide's  pond. 

There  appe-ars  to  have  been  a  second  dividend  of  the  common  lands 
about  this  time.  Stratford  laid  claim  to  all  the  lands  at  Pequonnock  lying 
on  the  east  side  of  Mutton  lane,  which  some  years  afterwards  received 
the  name  of  Division  street.  All  that  part  of  Pequonnock  south-cast  of 
Golden-hill,  between  this  lane  and  the  Pequonnock  river,  was  given  the 
name  of  Wolves'  Pit  plain.  It  was  the  custom  in  those  days  to  dig  deep 
pits  in  the  woods  and  on  the  plains,  into  which  wolves  and  foxes  unsus- 
piciously fell,  and  were  taken  by  the  planters.  The  high  land  at  the 
harbor,  west  of  Mutton  lane,  was  called  Greenlca.:}:  North  of  Greenlea, 
and  west  of  Mutton  lane  lay  the  earliest  settlement  of  Pequonnock.  The 
small  green  near  the  old  Pequonnock  burying-ground  appears  to  have 
been  the  common  green  used  for  training,  etc.  North-east  and  south-east 
of  this  green  the  first  planters  took  up  their  home-lots.  As  their  num- 
bers increased,  some  of  them,  with  their  sons  and  sons-in-law  erected 

*  This  property  afterwards  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  Bulkleys,  and  is  now  owned  by  the 
Glover  family.  Daniel  Bulkley's  land  is  mentioned  as  having  been  willed  to  his  brother  Thomas, 
in  A  of  Town  Deeds,  p.  267. 

f  This  lot  was  granted  to  William  Hill,  jr.,  the  13.  Feb.  1670  (A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  96),  and  is 
now  owned  by  Judge  S.  Glover. 

$  Seaside  park  and  the  beautiful  residences  north  of  it  once  formed  a  part  of  Greenlea. 


44  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1644 

dwellings  at  Greenlea.  Others  found  home-lots  and  fine  farming  lands 
along  the  gradual  rise  of  Tilesomc  (Toilsome)  hill,  the  summit  of  which 
overlooks  a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  country  and  Long  Island 
Sound. 

On  the  east  of  the  settlement,  to  the  west  banks  of  the  Pequonnock 
river,  was  the  Indian  reservation  of  Golden-hill.  Another  reservation, 
called  the  Old  Indian  Field,  which  has  already  been  mentioned,  was  laid 
out  on  a  neck  of  land  east  of  the  Uncoway  river  at  Black  Rock. 

North-west  of  what  was  called  the  Old  Indian  Field  at  Black  Rock  was 
Try's  field, *  celebrated  for  having  been  the  spot  upon  which  the  witch 
Knap  was  hung,  and  on  the  south-east  Fairweather  island  and  the  village 
or  "  the  plain  of  Black  Rock."  Fairweather  island  at  that  time,  like  the 
coast  all  along  the  Sound,  was  covered  with  beech  trees.  A  road  extended 
from  Division  street  to  the  south-west  end  of  the  island,  shaded  by  these 
trees.  From  time  to  time  the  cutting  down  of  the  beech  trees  for  fuel, 
very  materially  affected  the  size  and  shape  of  the  island,  causing  the  sand 
and  soil  to  be  washed  down  into  the  harbor.  Black  Rock  was  so  named 
from  the  black  grass  or  salt  grass,  and  the  dark  color  of  the  rocks  extend- 
ing out  into  the  Sound.  Grover's-hill,  which  rises  southward  from  the 
plain  to  a  considerable  height,  affords  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Sound 
and  the  surrounding  country.  It  was  probably  one  of  the  points  at  a  very 
early  date,  from  which  the  guards  of  the  town  watched  the  maneuvers  of 
the  Indians,  and  the  approach  of  Dutch  and  foreign  vessels  at  this  hostile 
period.  The  point  of  land  rising  between  the  west  bank  of  the  Uncoway 
river  and  the  salt  meadows  on  the  west,  was  for  many  years  called  See- 
ley's  point,  and  at  a  later  date  the  Penfield  mill  property  ;  while  the  rise 
of  meadow  land  west  of  the  salt  meadows,  received  the  name  of  Paul's 
neck.  The  hill  which  rises  at  the  junction  of  the  Uncoway  river  and 
Uncoway  or  Mill  creek,  was  for  many  years  called  the  Old  Mill-hill. 
North-west  of  this  hill,  between  Paul's  neck  and  Ludlow's  pasture  lot,  lay 
the  Windsor  field.  North  of  this,  stretching  towards  Pequonnock,  was  the 
Concord  field.  A  rise  of  ground  in  this  field,  overlooking  a  wide  expanse 
of  scenery,  has  been  called  Nature  Displayed.  North  of  this  rises  Holland 
hill,  first  called  Tunzix  hill.  North-west  of  this  hill  lies  Fairfield  woods, 
in  which  was  another  wolves'  swamp.  At  the  foot  of  Holland  hill,  a 
peculiar  bend  in  the  old  king's  highway,  gave  rise  to  the  name  of  Cheer, 
or  Chair  swamp.  South-west  of  Concord  field  lay  Barlozv's  plains,  extend- 
ing through  to  Mill  river.  This  plain  was  named  after  John  Barlow,  who 
removed  thither  from  the  Ludlow  square.  The  locality  appears  to  have 
*  Will  of  Henry  Jackson,  Fairfield  Probate  Records,  1682. 


1644]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT 


45 


been  an  aristocratic  part  of  the  town,  a  fine  park  having  been  laid  out  in 
it,  around  which  the  planters  took  up  their  home-lots.  It  became  in  time 
a  famous  resort  for  "  turkey  matches."  Another  place  for  these  turkey- 
matches  was  on  the  Black  Rock  turnpike  near  samp-mortar  rocks.*  A 
medicinal  spring  existed  here  called  the  Honey-pot,  so  named  from  honey 
found  near  it,  the  waters  of  which  the  Indians  believed  possessed  great 
healing  properties.  North-west  of  the  park  rises  Clapboard  hill,  on  the 
north  of  which  is  Osborne's  hill,  and  on  the  west  Round  hill.  The  land 
lying  between  Barlow's  plain  and  Hide's  pond,  was  called  "  The  Rocks" 
Between  Paul's  neck  and  Concord  street,  extending  to  the  Sound,  was  the 
"  middle  meadow."  All  the  upland  on  the  coast  lying  between  Concord 
street  and  Sasco  neck,  was  called  the  "  t he  great  meadow  before  the  toicn" 
Within  this  meadow,  near  Burial  hill,  was  another  pond  surrounded  with 
reeds.  Seventeen  acres  running  from  the  rear  of  Burial  hill  and  the  Burr 
property  to  the  sea-beach,  belonged  to  Ludlow,  through  which,  from  the 
north-west  to  the  south-east  was  "  a  strip  of  reeds."  West  of  this  field,  in 
the  rear  of  the  Burr  square,  were  dense  woods  called  Wolves'  sivauip. 
Along  the  coast  south-west  of  Wolves'  swamp  to  Sasqua  hill,  lay  Sasqua 
neck,  through  which  runs  Pine  creek.  The  land  in  this  neck  is  intersected 
with  innumerable  small  streamlets,  which  at  high  tide  in  those  days  over- 
flowed the  meadows.  The  island  now  known  as  Ward's  island  was  soon 
afterwards  allotted  to  Simon  Hoyt,  and  called  Hoyt's  island.  North-west 
of  this  lay  another  small  island,  named  Evarts'  island,  while  an  island  cast 
of  Pine  creek  covered  with  pines,  at  a  later  date  granted  to  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Wakeman,  was  named  Wakeman's  island.  Hawkins'  point  lay  cast  of 
this  island  and  Pine  creek,  while  east  of  these  lay  the  island  or  peninsula, 
now  known  as  the  Penfield  reef,  the  Cows,  and  the  causeway,  upon  the 
extreme  east  end  of  which  stands  a  government  light-house.  Flat  island 
is  still  found  at  the  mouth  of  Pine  creek.  Between  Sasqua  neck  and  Mill 
river  rose  Sasqua  hill,  the  summit  of  which  commands  an  extensive  view 
of  Long  Island  Sound,  Fairfield,  Mill-plain,  and  the  Sasqua  fields  on  the 
west  of  the  river.  The  beautiful  valley  southwest  of  Barlow's  plain  and 
the  Rocks  was  given  the  name  of  Mill  plain.  The  Sasqua  fields  lay 
between  the  west  banks  of  Mill  river  and  Maxumux  or  Banksidc.  The 
small  winding  stream  which  runs  out  of  the  west  side  of  Mill  river,  a  short 
distance  above  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  still  retains  the  name  of  Sascoe 
creek.  The  stream  which  empties  into  the  Sound  about  half  a  mile  west 
of  this  creek,  near  Frost's  point,  also  retains  the  name  of  Sascoe  river. 
About  one  mile  from  jts  mouth  it  widens  to  a  considerable  extent,  form- 
*  Testimony  of  Mr.  Stephen  Morehouse  of  Fairfield. 


46  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1644 

ing  a  large  pond,  which  was  called  "  the  great  pond,'"  "the  great  mill  pond 
in  the  Sasqua  fields,"  and  afterwards  Sasco  pond.  Two  other  large  ponds 
were  found  in  these  fields,  one  of  which  still  exists,  and  is  situated  about 
half  a  mile  south-west  of  the  Sascoe  mill  pond.  The  other  was  but  a 
short  distance  north-east  of  Pequot  swamp,  but  was  drained  and  filled  up 
within  the  present  century.'" 

The  highway  which  extended  from  Fairfield  to  Maxumux,  forked  from 
the  Fairfield  turnpike  leading  into  Mill  plain,  across  the  fields  to  the  east 
slope  of  Sasqua  hill ;  ran  below  the  hills  along  the  west  bank  of  Mill  river, 
until  it  crossed  the  stone  bridge  over  Sasco  creek,  wound  west  a  short  dis- 
tance, when  it  again  crossed  a  second  stone  bridge  over  the  same  stream 
called  the  Horse  tavern  (on  account  of  its  having  been  a  drinking-place  for 
horses)  and  taking  a  south-westerly  course  along  the  beach,  crossed  Sasco 
river  to  the  grazing  fields  of  Maxumux. 

North  and  north-west  of  the  town  lay  a  vast  wilderness  of  undivided 
land,  inhabited  by  the  Sasqua  and  Aspetuck  Indians,  which  at  a  later  date 
included  the  long  lots  and  tlie  upper  meadow.  These  fields  and  meadows 
were  portioned  out,  according  to  the  necessity  of  the  planters,  to  be 
improved  by  them,  and  were  afterwards  sold  among  themselves  and  to 
new-comers,  although,  in  reality,  they  had  no  legal  claim  to  them,  save 
that  authorized  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut. 

The  first  grist  mill  was  situated  on  the  Sasqua  river  at  Mill  plain,  and 
was  erected  by  Thomas  Sherwood  of  Fairfield.  John  Green  soon  after 
erected  another  mill  above  this  on  the  same  stream  ;  hence  the  name  of 
Sasqua  was  changed  to  that  of  the  Mill  river. 

The  Indians  becoming  more  troublesome  than  ever,  led  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  united  colonies  to  meet  at  Hartford  in  September.f  It 
was  agreed  to  send  Thomas  Stanton,  with  Nathaniel  Willets,  to  the  chief 
sachems  of  the  Narragansetts,  with  the  request  that  they  should,  for  the 
time  being,  cease  all  hostilities  against  Uncas,  until  after  a  hearing  before 
the  commissioners.  They  were  promised  protection  and  a  safe  passage  to 
and  from  Hartford.  The  Narragansetts  sent  one  of  their  chief  sachems 
with  his  attending  counselors  to  accompany  Stanton  and  Willets  on  their 
return.  Uricas  also  appeared  before  the  commissioners.  After  hearing 

*  This  pond  was  drained  and  filled  up  by  Noah  Pike  of  New  York,  and  made  into  a  beautiful 
lawn  before  his  residence,  which  he  erected  upon  a  rise  of  ground  on  the  north-west  of  it,  and  at 
the  present  day  is  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  George  Bulkley,  Esq. 

f  The  Indians  all  over  the  country  were  in  a  high  state  of  hostility.  "  In  Virginia  they  rose  & 
made  a  most  horrible  sacrifice  of  the  English,  &  it  was  imagined  that  there  was  a  general  com- 
bination among  the  southern  £  New  England  Indians  to  destroy  all  the  colonies." — Trumbull's 
Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  145. 


DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  47 

the  complaints  alleged  by  the  Narragansetts  against  him,  whom  they 
accused  of  refusing  to  receive  a  ransom  offered  for  the  life  of  Miantonimo, 
which  they  could  not  prove,  it  was  agreed  that  all  hostilities  should  cease 
"until  after  the  next  year's  time  of  planting  corn."  The  Narragansetts 
also  promised  that  at  the  end  of  this  time  they  would  not  make  war  upon 
Uncas,  without  giving  at  least  thirty  days'  notice  to  the  governors  of 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  Some  of  the  Long  Island  Indians  were 
also  present.  They  stated  that  having  paid  tribute  to  the  English  since 
the  Pequot  war,  and  never  having  injured  any  white  settlers,  either 
English  or  Dutch,  they  desired  a  certificate  of  their  allegiance  to  the 
English,  and  that  they  might  be  taken  under  the  protection  of  the  united 
colonies.  A  certificate  was  given  upon  their  promising  that  they  would 
live  at  peace  with  the  neighboring  tribes,  and  not  join  them  in  their 
hostilities  against  the  Dutch  or  English. 

A  general  trade  with  the  Indians  was  proposed,  under  a  stock  company 
of  five  or  six  thousand  pounds,  which  was  defeated  by  the  Massachusetts 
commissioners.  It  was  agreed  that  the  verdict  of  any  one  of  the  General 
Courts  should  be  treated  with  all  due  respect  by  the  other  courts  through- 
out the  colonies,  until  some  other  evidence  should  make  it  null  and  void. 
The  danger  of  selling  fire-arms  and  ammunition  to  the  French  and  Dutch 
was  commended  to  the  serious  consideration  of  the  several  jurisdictions. 
Connecticut  ordered  "  that  no  persons  within  her  liberties  should  sell  nether 
gun  nor  pistoll,  nor  any  instrument  of  war  to  Dutch  or  French  men,  under 
the  penalty  of  forfeiting  twenty  for  one  ;  &  suffering  such  further  corporall 
punishment  as  the  Court  shall  inflict." 

The  relief  occasioned  by  the  treaty  with  the  Narragansetts  and  Long 
Island  Indians,  for  the  time  being,  caused  great  rejoicing  in  the  colonies. 
The  General  Court  of  Connecticut  appointed  Wednesday  the  gth  of  Sep- 
tember as  a  public  day  of  thanksgiving  throughout  the  jurisdiction. 

The  court  also  took  into  consideration  the  necessity  of  relieving  the 
planters  of  a  surplus  amount  of  corn,  which,  since  wheat  and  other  English 
crops  had  been  abundantly  raised,  had  fallen  in  price  and  become  unsale- 
able. It  was  deemed  advisable  to  make  some  further  effort  toward  send- 
ing it  abroad,  which  hitherto  had  been  prevented  for  want  of  vessels  to 
export  it.  In  order  to  encourage  its  cultivation  for  this  purpose,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  court  that  no  English  grain  should  be  sold  out  of  the  Con- 
necticut river  but  to  Edward  Hopkins,  Esq.,  Mr.  William  Whiting  and 
such  other  merchants  as  they  should  appoint.  These  gentlemen  were  "to 
undertake  the  transportation  thereof  unto  some  parts  beyond  the  sea,"  at 
the  rate  of  four  shillings  a  bushel.  Wheat  also  and  peas  were  to  be  sent 


48  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1644 

and  sold  at  three  shillings  a  bushel.  In  case  the  vessel  which  transported 
"  this  adventure  "  was  lost,  one  half  of  the  valuation  of  the  grain  was  to  be 
at  "  the  risk  of  the  owners  thereof."  No  one  person  was  allowed  to  send 
more  than  one  hundred  bushels  at  a  time.  Upon  the  return  of  the  ship 
the  committee  were  to  pay  the  owners  of  the  grain,  in  the  best  and  most 
suitable  English  commodities  that  were  deemed  necessary  for  the  support 
of  the  plantations.  At  the  same  time  it  was  made  a  law  that  any  person 
who  sent  corn  out  of  the  country  in  any  other  way  or  by  any  other  per- 
sons than  by  those  the  court  appointed,  should  forfeit  one-half  the  valua- 
tion of  his  grain,  which  was  to  be  divided  into  equal  parts,  one-half  to  the 
discoverer  of  "  the  deceit,"  and  the  other  half  to  be  paid  to  the  town 
treasury. 

From  the  will  of  William  Frost,  dated  6th  Jan.  1644-5,  wc  learn  that  he 
left  the  following  bequest :  "  And  to  the  town  of  Uncowah  I  give  & 
bequeath  tenn  pounds  in  good  pay,  towards  building  a  meeting  house  to  be 
paid  when  yl  is  half  built."  Henry  Gray,  his  son-in-law,  was  to  pay  this  sum 
at  the  specified  time,  and  Ephraim  Wheeler  and  Daniel  Frost,  as  over- 
seers of  his  estate,  were  to  sec  that  the  will  was  "  performed  to  the  intent 
thereof."  The  church  covenant,  under  which  the  first  settlers  of  Uncoway 
united,  was,  without  doubt,  the  same  as  that  used  by  the  members  of  the 
West  Parish  of  Green's  farms,  and  in  the  North-west  Parish  of  Greenfield 
hill,  the  covenant  in  both  parishes  being  the  same.  The  only  extant  par- 
ish record  of  the  Fairfield  church  is  that  begun  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Webb 
in  1694.  The  first  meeting-house  erected  at  Fairfield  was  called  Christ's 
Church,  and  stood  upon  the  Frost  square  south-east  the  school  and  town 
house,  facing  north-east.  It  was  evidently  a  building  of  good  size  and 
comfortable  accommodations.  The  school-house  probably  served  as  a 
Sabbath-day  house.  The  church  society  received  the  name  of  the  Prime 
Ancient  Society. 

An  important  step  toward  the  maintainance  of  ministers  and  poor 
young  men  at  Harvard  College  was  at  this  time  taken  by  the  commission- 
ers of  the  united  colonies.  It  was  proposed  that  every  person  of  intelli- 
gence and  means  in  all  the  plantations  in  the  New  England  colony  should 
voluntarily  agree  to  give  annually  a  certain  fixed  sum  for  these  purposes. 
This  order  was  confirmed  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  on  the  25th 
of  October.  Mr.  Jehu  Burr  and  Ephraim  Wheeler  were  appointed  to  this 
trust  for  Fairfield. 

Cattle  of  all  kinds  were  kept  by  herdsmen  annually  appointed  and 
paid  by  the  towns  to  care  for  them.  The  Maxumux  land  was  a  favorite 
grazing  place.  In  those  days,  while  bears  and  wolves  were  numerous,  a 


1645]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  49 

herdsman  was  indispensable.  That  each  owner  might  be  able  to  recognize 
his  cattle  or  swine  in  case  they  strayed  from  the  herdsmen,  a  law  was 
passed  requiring  that  every  owner  should  have  ear  marks  or  brands  on 
all  his  animals  over  half  a  year  old  (except  horses),  and  that  their  sev- 
eral marks  be  registered  in  the  town  book.  Letter  B  of  Fairfield  Votes 
presents  many  interesting  marks  of  the  different  owners  of  cattle. 

The  previous  requirement  in  the  fundamental  order,  that  the  General 
Court  should  consist  of  a  governor,  or  some  one  appointed  by  him  as  mod- 
erator, with  four  other  magistrates,  was  changed  at  this  time,  and  it  was 
made  lawful  for  the  governor  or  deputy-governor  and  a  large  part  of  the 
magistrates  and  deputies  to  be  a  legal  court.  At  the  court  of  election 
held  on  the  loth  of  April,  Ludlow  was  chosen  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
the  General  Court,  and  Thomas  Newton  a  deputy  from  Fairfield.  The 
requirement  of  six  days  in  the  first  weeks  of  the  several  months  for  train- 
ing was  changed  to  three  days. 

Two  colony  fairs  were  annually  allowed  to  be  held  at  Hartford,  on  the 
second  Wednesdays  in  May  and  September. 

The  distance  of  Fairfield  from  Hartford  seriously  interfered  with  cases 
referred  to  the  General  Court,  in  consequence  of  which  Governor  John 
Haynes,  upon  the  motion  of  Ludlow,  in  behalf  of  the  plantations,  "  con- 
sented to  hold  a  court  twice  this  year  at  the  seaside,"  with  liberty  to  take 
what  magistrates  he  pleased  with  him.  The  appearance  of  the  governor 
himself  among  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  and  so  important  an  event  as 
his  presence  in  the  court,  must  have  been  an  occasion  of  no  small  excite- 
ment among  the  planters  of  Uncoway  and  Cupheag.  It  was  also  ordered 
that  a  letter  should  be  addressed  to  Governor  Fenwick,  desiring  him,  ''  if 
occasion  would  permit,"  to  go  to  England  to  obtain  an  enlargement  of  the 
Connecticut  patent,  "  and  for  the  further  advantages  of  the  Country." 
Mr.  Fenwick  did  not  accept  the  appointment,  and  New  Haven  soon 
after  concluded  to  join  with  Connecticut  in  obtaining  patents  of  their 
lands  from  Parliament.  On  the  nth  of  November  Thomas  Gregson, 
Esq.,  was  appointed  from  New  Haven  to  undertake  a  voyage  to  Eng- 
land, for  this  purpose,  but  the  loss  of  the  ship  in  which  he  sailed  and 
the  condition  of  affairs  in  England  resulted  in  giving  up  the  project  for 
the  time  being. 

In  July  two  hundred  pounds  were  levied  upon  the  plantations  towards 
purchasing  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  to  be  paid  in  grain,  at  such  prices  as  a 
committee  appointed  to  receive  it  should  agree  upon.  The  measures 
which  had  been  adopted  to  make  peace  with  the  Indians  proved  unsuc- 
cessful. The  Narragansetts  could  not  restrain  their  resentment  towards 
4 


50  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1645 

Uncas,  but,  in  violation  of  their  treaty,  invaded  his  territory,  assaulted 
him  in  his  fort  and  killed  several  of  his  men.  A  special  meeting  of  the 
commissioners  was  called  and  held  at  Boston  on  the  28th  of  June.  Again 
messengers  were  dispatched  into  the  Narragansett  and  Moheagan  coun- 
tries, inviting  them  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  with 
assurances  of  protection  and  a  just  settlement  of  their  difficulties.  The 
Narragansetts  received  the  messengers  with  courtesy,  but  upon  hearing 
their  proposition  became  infuriated  and  utterly  refused  to  visit  Boston. 
Nothing  but  the  blood  of  Uncas  would  satisfy  them.  They  abused  the 
messengers  and  threatened  to  kill  the  English  cattle,  and  shoot  every 
Englishman  who  stepped  out  of  his  door.  One  of  their  sachems  declared 
that  whoever  began  the  war,  he  would  continue  it  until  Uncas  should  be 
delivered  up  to  them. 

Roger  Williams  of  Rhode  Island  wrote  to  the  commissioners  that  an 
Indian  war  was  inevitable,  but  that  he  had  concluded  a  neutrality  with 
them  in  behalf  of  Providence  and  the  towns  upon  the  Aquidney  Islands. 
Still  hoping  to  prevent  so  great  a  calamity,  the  commissioners  sought  the 
advice  of  the  magistrates,  church  elders  and  principal  military  officers  of 
Massachusetts.  They  promptly  replied,  and  gave  their  unanimous  opinion 
that  according  to  the  engagement  made  with  Uncas,  they  were  obliged  to 
defend  him  in  his  fort  and  to  protect  him  and  his  men  in  all  their  estates 
and  liberties  without  delay,  or  he  would  be  destroyed.  It  was  agreed  that 
war  should  be  declared,  and  that  three  hundred  men  should  be  immedi- 
ately raised  and  sent  against  the  Narragansetts.  Of  this  force  it  was  voted 
that  Massachusetts  should  send  one  hundred  and  ninety  men,  Plymouth 
and  Connecticut  forty  each,  and  New  Haven  thirty.  From  the  Connecti- 
cut and  New  Haven  soldiers,  who  had  formerly  been  sent  to  protect  Uncas, 
and  who  were  at  this  time  about  to  return  home,  forty  men,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Humphrey,  were  immediately  impressed  in  Massa- 
chusetts. In  three  days,  completely  armed  and  victualed,  they  set  out  for 
the  Moheagan  country.  The  General  Court  also  ordered  that  the  magis- 
trates, or  the  greater  part  of  them,  should,  if  they  saw  fit,  press  men  and 
ammunition  for  a  defensive  war,  or  defend  the  Moheagans  until  the  next 
sitting  of  the  court.  New  Haven  gave  the  same  order.  Captain  Mason 
was  forwarded  a  commission  to  take  command  of  the  Connecticut  troops 
upon  their  arrival  at  Moheagan.  Major  Edward  Gibbons  of  Massachusetts 
was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  whole  army,  with  instructions 
to  offer  peace  to  the  Narragansetts  upon  honorable  terms.  In  case  they 
refused  to  enter  into  a  treaty  with  him,  he  was  further  instructed,  that  if 
they  would  neither  fight  nor  accept  his  offer  of  peace,  to  invade  their 


1645]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  51 

country  and  t^  erect  forts  upon  the  Niantick  river  and  Narragansctt,  in 
which  to  store  the  corn  and  goods  which  he  should  take  from  them. 

Hoping  to  make  peace  with  the  English,  the  Narragansetts  sent  a 
present  to  Governor  Winthrop,  requesting  that  they  might  make  war  upon 
Uncas  in  order  to  revenge  the  death  of  Miantonimo.  The  present  was 
refused,  but  upon  their  desire  that  it  should  be  left  with  the  governor 
until  they  could  communicate  with  their  sachems,  it  was  allowed  to 
remain.  The  commissioners,  however,  without  delay  ordered  it  to  be 
returned  by  messengers  sent  to  inform  the  Narragansett  sachems  that  they 
would  neither  accept  their  present  nor  offer  them  peace  until  they  had 
had  made  satisfaction  for  past  injuries  and  given  security  for  their  good 
conduct  in  the  future.  When  the  messengers  informed  Passacus,  the  chief 
sachem  of  the  Narragansetts,  of  the  object  of  their  visit,  that  the  English 
were  as  desirous  of  peace  with  him  and  his  men  as  they  had  ever  been,  he 
requested  them  to  take  back  the  present,  and  to  say  that  he  and  some  of 
his  chief  men  would  immediately  visit  Boston.  The  messengers  returned 
with  the  Indian  present,  and  wrote  to  Captain  Mason  that  there  was  a 
prospect  of  peace.  The  commissioners,  however,  regarding  the  step  as 
one  of  delay  on  the  part  of  the  Narragansetts  in  order  to  make  time  for 
war,  reproved  the  messengers  for  bringing  the  present  back  and  for  writing 
without  authority  to  Captain  Mason. 

A  few  days  after  Passacus,  Mehsamo,  the  eldest  son  of  Cannonicus, 
and  Wytowash,  three  principal  sachems,  with  Awashequen  from  the 
Nehantic  tribe,  and  a  long  and  imposing  retinue  of  attendants  visited  Bos- 
ton. They  again  desired  a  year's  planting  time,  which  was  refused  by  the 
commissioners.  When  pressed  with  the  injuries  done  to  Uncas,  their 
threats  against  the  English,  and  with  the  great  expense  the  latter  were 
suffering  in  order  to  protect  Uncas  and  maintain  the  peace  of  the  country, 
the  sachems  reluctantly  acknowledged  their  breach  of  the  treaty.  Accord- 
ing to  an  Indian  custom  they  presented  a  stick  to  the  commission- 
ers, in  token  of  their  submission  and  desire  to  make  peace  according  to 
their  wishes.  They  then  inquired  what  the  English  wished. 

Two  thousand  fathoms  of  white  wampum  was  demanded  by  the  com- 
missioners as  but  a  small  sum  for  the  danger  and  expense  incurred  by  the 
trouble  the  Narragansetts  had  made.  They  required  that  all  the  captives 
and  canoes  taken  from  Uncas  should  be  returned  to  him,  and  that  any 
future  troubles  with  him  should  be  submitted  to  the  English.  They  also 
promised  that  Uncas  should  return  all  the  captives  and  canoes  which  he 
had  taken  from  them.  In  order  to  give  proof  of  their  sincerity  hostages 
were  demanded.  These  terms  seemed  hard  to  the  Narragansetts,  but 


52  .  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1646 

after  some  abatement  in  the  amount  required,  on  the  3Oth  of  August  they 
reluctantly  signed  the  articles  of  peace,  which  only  fear  of  the  English 
arms  led  them  to  do.  Some  of  their  men  were  left  as  hostages  until  a 
certain  number  of  their  children  should  be  delivered  as  a  faithful  secu- 
rity of  their  sincerity  to  this  treaty. 

Again  joy  reigned  in  the  homes  of  the  English,  and  on  the  day  the 
troops  were  disbanded  a  general  thanksgiving  was  celebrated  by  all  the 
towns  in  the  colonies.  The  names  of  Jehu  Burr  and  Thomas  Sherwood 
appear  on  the  list  of  deputies  from  Fairfield  sent  to  attend  the  meeting 
of  the  General  Court,  on  the  nth  of  September,  at  which  time  Ludlow 
accompanied  them  as  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  court. 

The  principal  act  of  this  court  appears  to  have  been  that  of  appointing 
the  constable  of  Hartford  to  make  out  an  account  of  the  expenses 
incurred  by  the  colony  in  defense  of  its  own  rights,  and  the  support  given 
to  Uncas.  The  provisions  gathered  were  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Whiting,  the 
treasurer  of  the  colony,  who  was  to  sell  them  and  pay  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale  to  the  soldiers  engaged  in  the  undertaking. 

In  December  a  tax  of  four  hundred  pounds  was  laid  upon  all  the  planta- 
tions of  Connecticut  towards  paying  the  expenses  of  the  late  expedition 
against  the  Narragansetts,  out  of  which  Stratford  and  Fairfield  were  taxed 
to  the  amount  of  forty-five  pounds.  This  year  Ludlow  was  again  elected 
one  of  the  assistant  judges  of  the  General  Court ;  and  Jehu  Burr  and 
Anthony  Wilson  were  chosen  deputies  from  Fairfield.  An  important  act 
was  passed  on  the  I  ith  of  April  in  regard  to  juries,  viz.:  that  whatever  alter- 
ations should  at  any  time  be  made  by  the  magistrates  in  cases  of  damages 
given  in  by  a  jury,  it  should  be  made  in  open  court  before  the  plain- 
tiff and  defendant,  or  on  affidavit  sent  that  they  had  been  summoned  to 
appear. 

Ludlow  and  the  Fairfield  deputies  took  exception  to  a  jury  of  six  allowed 
in  1644,  and  insisted  that  twelve  jurors  should  always  be  had  in  jury  cases. 
They  agreed,  however,  that  eight  or  twelve  might  bring  in  a  verdict.  One 
of  the  greatest  honors  offered  to  a  pioneer  of  New  England  was  at  the 
sitting  of  this  court  paid  to  Ludlow.  He  was  "desired  to  take  some 
paynes  in  drawing  forth  a  body  of  lawcs  for  the  government  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, &  present  them  to  the  next  General  Court ;  &  if  he  can 
provide  a  man  for  this  occasion,  while  he  is  employed  in  the  said  searvice, 
he  shall  be  paid  at  the  Country  chardge." 

It  was  also  ordered  that  there  should  be  two  particular  courts  held  the 
next  preceding  day  before  the  two  standing  General  Courts,  that  at  both 
the  assistance  of  Ludlow  might  be  had  in  such  actions  as  were  presented, 


1646]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  53 

either  from  the  river  settlements  or  the  seaside.  The  taxes  of  Fairfield 
and  Stratford  were  ordered  to  be  divided  between  the  two  towns.  To  add 
to  the  punishment  of  persons  who  had  been  whipped  for  any  scandalous 
offense,  an  act  was  passed,  that  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  vote  in  town 
or  commonwealth,  "  until  the  Court  should  manifest  their  satisfaction." 
Owing  to  the  inconvenience  of  the  planters  in  attending  the  court  of 
election  in  April,  when  the  plantations  required  full  attention,  it  was 
voted  to  change  the  date  to  the  third  Thursday  in  May.  * 

This  year  the  Dutch  became  more  exacting  concerning  their  territories 
both  at  New  Haven  and  in  Connecticut.  At  Hartford  they  maintained  a 
distinct  government,  and  would  in  no  wise  submit  to  the  laws  of  the 
colony.  At  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  at  New  Haven  in  Septem- 
ber the  troubles  of  the  Dutch  were  laid  before  them.  A  letter  was  writ- 
ten and  sent  to  Governor  Keift,  in  which  an  effort  was  made  to  compro- 
mise the  difficulties  between  them  and  the  English,  to  which  the  Dutch 
governor  returned  a  haughty  reply.  The  Indians  continued  exceedingly 
troublesome.  A  plot  was  set  on  foot  to  murder  Governor  Hopkins,  Gov- 
ernor Haynes,  Secretary  Whiting,  and  Uncas,  which  was  revealed  to  the 
whites  by  an  Indian  employed  by  Sequassen  to  commit  the  murders,  f 
The  Milford  Indians  proved  very  troublesome,  and  attempted  to  burn  the 
town  by  setting  fire  to  the  swamps  on  the  west  and  north,  which  the  plant- 
ers discovered  in  time  to  extinguish  it  and  save  the  town. 

Meanwhile  the  Indians  about  Milford,  Stratford  and  Fairfield  suffered 
from  a  descent  upon  them  by  the  Mohawks,  who  attempted  to  surprise 
them  in  their  fort.  The  English  discovering  the  design,  informed  those 
in  peril,  who  immediately  set  up  the  war-whoop.  Their  men  flocked  to 
the  fort.  A  battle  took  place,  in  which  the  Mohawks  were  overpowered, 
and  several  of  them  taken  prisoners.  One  of  their  captains  was  bound  and 
left  tied  up  in  the  salt-meadows  to  starve  and  to  be  tortured  to  death  by 
musquitoes.  An  Englishman  by  the  name  of  Hine  discovered  him,  and 
set  him  at  liberty.  This  act  was  ever  afterwards  treated  with  marked  con- 
sideration by  the  Mohawks. 

The  Fairfield  Indians  appear  to  have  rendered  some  assistance  on  this 
occasion.  "  It  happened  one  day  that  six  of  the  Mohawk  tribe  being  hotly 
pressed  by  the  Fairfield  Indians,  were  secreted  by  one  of  the  Wacklins 
(Wakelys)  of  Stratfield  under  some  sheaves  of  flax,  and  being  directed 
homewards,  were  the  occasion  of  the  long  amnesty  that  subsisted  between 
that  tribe  &  the  English."  No  doubt  this  kindness  of  Hine  and  that  of 
Wakely  saved  a  great  deal  of  future  trouble  for  the  planters  in  this 

*Col.   Rec.  Conn.,  i,  140.  f  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  i,  161. 


54  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1647 

region  from  the  Mohawks.  The  perfidious  Narragansetts  did  not  fulfill 
any  of  the  promises  they  had  made  to  the  English  ;  but  continued  in  acts 
of  direct  treachery  and  intrigue  against  them,  of  which  the  commissioners 
gave  them  to  understand  they  had  full  knowledge.  The  Dutch  and 
Indian  war  continued.  A  battle  was  fought  at  Horseneck  or  Stricklands' 
plain.  After  a  long  and  obstinate  resistance,  the  Dutch  were  victorious, 
and  the  Indians  put  to  flight.  Many  were  slain  on  both  sides,  and  their 
dead  buried  in  heaps,  and  covered  with  earth,  giving  their  graves  the 
appearance  of  small  hills. 

At  the  court  of  election  held  in  Hartford  in  May,  Ludlow  was  again 
elected  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  Charles  Taintor  and  Edmund  Harvey 
deputies  from  Fairfield.  A  particular  explanation  of  the  tenth  fundamen- 
tal article  was  called  for  by  some  of  the  attendants  of  this  court,  it  never 
having  been  fully  understood.  It  had  been  previously  thought  that  a 
particular  court  could  not  be  legally  held  without  the  presence  of  the 
governor,  or  deputy-governor,  or  some  one  chosen  by  the  governor  as 
moderator,  and  four  magistrates.  A  more  full  interpretation  of  the  article 
was  entered  upon,  and  it  was  finally  "  ordered,  sentenced  &  decreed"  that 
the  governor  or  deputy-governor,  with  two  magistrates,  should  have  power 
to  keep  a  particular  court ;  and  in  case  the  governor  or  deputy-governor 
could  not  be  present,  if  three  magistrates  met,  they  might  choose  one  of 
themselves  as  a  moderator.  A  guard  of  eight  complete  in  their  arms 
every  Sabbath  and  lecture  day,  was  at  this  time  ordered  to  be  kept  in  each 
of  the  towns  at  the  seaside  ;  and  as  the  population  became  more  numerous 
it  was  to  be  increased.  It  was  enacted  that  the  taxes  upon  the  towns  for 
the  general  support  of  the  colony  should  be  brought  in  yearly  in  the 
month  of  September.  Ludlow  was  appointed  to  give  out  warrant  for  the 
taxes  at  the  seaside.  The  soldiers  in  each  of  the  towns  were  authorized 
to  make  choice  of  their  military  officers,  and  present  their  names  to  the 
particular  court,  to  be  acted  upon  according  to  the  judgment  of  the 
court. 

Owing  to  many  abuses,  committed  from  the  frequent  use  of  tobacco,  it 
was  ordered  that  no  person  under  the  age  of  twenty  years,  nor  any  one 
not  yet  accustomed  to  its  use,  should  take  take  the  weed  until  he  had 
obtained,  "  a  certificate  under  the  hand  of  some  who  are  approved,  for 
knowledge  &  skill  in  phisicke,  that  it  is  useful  for  him,  &  that  he  has 
received  a  licence  from  the  Court  for  the  same  :  " — "  and  for  the  regulating 
of  those  who  had  already  made  it  necessary  for  their  use,"  it  was  ordered  : 
"  that  no  man  in  the  colony  after  the  publication  hereof,  shall  take  any 
tobaco  publicquely  in  the  street,  nor  the  field  or  woods,  unless  when 


1648]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  55 

travelling  at  least  ten  miles,  or  at  the  ordinary  time  of  repast,  com- 
monly called  dinner ;  or  if  it  be  not  then  taken,  yet  not  above  once  in  the 
day  at  most,  &  then  not  in  company  with  any  other.  Nor  shall  any 
inhabitant  in  any  of  the  towns,  within  this  jurisdiction  take  tobacco,  in 
any  house  in  the  same  town  where  he  liveth,  with  or  in  the  company 
of  any  more  than  one  who  useth  &  drinketh  the  same  weed  with  him 
at  that  time,  under  a  penalty  of  six  pence  for  each  offence  against 
this  order,  in  any  of  the  plantations  thereof."  The  constables  were 
appointed  to  present  the  names  of  such  as  transgressed  this  act  to  the 
particular  court. 

To  prevent  the  abuse  of  wine  and  strong  water,  it  was  ordered  :  "  That 
no  inhabitant  in  any  town  should  continue  in  a  tavern  or  victualing 
house  in  the  town  in  which  he  lived  more  than  half  an  hour  at  a  time, 
drinking  wine,  beer,  or  hot  water."  Neither  should  any  one  sell  wine  or 
any  drink  "  above  the  proportion  of  three  to  a  pint  of  sack ;  "  nor  should 
wine  be  sold  "  to  a  private  resident  or  to  those  who  come  for  it,"  unless  by 
a  note  signed  by  "some  one  Mr.  of  a  family,  &  he  an  allowed  inhabitant 
of  the  town."  Neither  were  hotel  keepers  permitted  to  sell  or  draw  hot 
water  to  any  but  in  case  of  necessity,  under  the  censure  of  the  court  in 
any  one  of  the  above  cases. 

At  the  next  particular  court  held  on  the  3d  of  June,  Thomas  Newton, 
of  Fairfield,  was  fined  ,£5  "  for  his  misdemeanor  in  the  vessel  called  the 
Virginia,  (in  which  he  was  probably  captain)  in  giving  Philip  White,  wine 
when  he  had  too  much  before."  It  was  also  resolved,  that  Ludlow,  having 
perfected  a  body  of  laws,  not  only  the  man  hired  to  labor  for  him  should 
be  paid  by  the  court,  but  that  Ludlow  himself  should  "be  further  con- 
sidered for  his  services." 

Arrangements  were  entered  upon  to  engage  any  one  disposed  to  un- 
dertake the  whaling  business  for  the  term  of  seven  years.  Black  Rock 
afterwards  became  for  many  years  a  noted  whaling  ship  port.  Although 
the  Narragansetts  and  Nehantic  Indians  still  continued  in  an  alarming 
attitude,  the  commissioners  at  a  special  meeting  in  July  obtained  a  con- 
tinued promise  of  peace.  At  the  court  of  election  in  May,  Ludlow  was 
for  the  third  time  chosen  deputy-governor  of  the  colony.  Andrew  Ward 
and  Charles  Taintor  were  elected  deputies  from  Fairfield.  Salaries  of  .£30 
annually  were  directed  to  be  paid  to  the  governor  and  deputy-governor, 
as  a  compensation  for  their  official  expenses.  At  the  sitting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  on  the  i8th  of  May,  Ludlow  and  the  Fairfield  deputies,  not 
wholly  satisfied  with  the  movement  of  the  three  first  Maxumux  farmers, 
who  it  appears  had  purchased  the  Maxumux  lands  of  the  Indians  on  their 


56  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1648 

own  responsibility,  brought  the  affair  before  the   court,  which  resulted  in 
the  following  resolution : 

"  Whereas,  There  are  certain  farms  to  be  set  forth  upon  the  borders  within  the  limits 
of  Fairfield,  It  is  ordered  there  shall  be  no  further  proceeding-  in  taking  up  any  ground 
there  about,  until  it  be  viewed  by  some  that  shall  be  appointed  by  such  as  shall  keep  the 
next  Court  at  Fairfield." 

An  important  movement  had  taken  place  among  the  planters  at  Fair- 
field.  The  fine  meadows  and  planting  fields  of  Maxumux  had  attracted 
their  attention,  and  some  of  them  had  contemplated  a  settlement  there. 
At  a  particular  court  held  at  Fairfield  on  the  loth  of  October,  the 
Bankside  farmers  were  allowed  to  proceed  in  their  undertaking.  Among 
the  early  documents  preserved  in  the  state  capitol  at  Hartford,  is  the 
following,  dated  1648  : 

"  Imprimis.  It  is  agreed  that  Thomas  Newton  Henry  Gray  &  John  Green,  shall 
have  liberty  to  sit  down  &  inhabit  at  Machamux  ;  &  shall  have  for  each  of  them  laid 
out  as  in  propriety  to  themselves  &  their  heirs  forever,  twenty  acres  in  upland,  to  be 
indifferently  laid  out  by  the  appointment  of  said  town,  in  a  convenient  place,  where  it  may 
not  be  too  obnoxious  to  the  depasturing  &  feeding  of  the  cattle  of  the  said  town.  And 
that  if  they  improve  the  said  land,  to  make  a  sufficient  mound  or  fence,  or  mounds  & 
fences,  to  secure  their  said  town  &  land  from  the  trespass  of  the  cattle  of  the  inhabitants 
of  said  town.  And  their  said  fence  shall  be  viewed  by  the  said  town,  or  their  deputies, 
whether  sufficient  or  no,  &  shall  be  therein  subject  to  such  orders  as  the  town  shall 
make  about  other  farms  of  the  town. 

"  Item.  That  there  shall  be  sufficient  passage  &  way  or  ways  for  the  cattle  of  said 
Fairfield  to  pass  to  the  sea  shore ;  &  all  the  way  to  feed  &  depasture  to  &  again  in 
those  parts  ;  &  that  neither  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  nor  their  cattle  may  be 
prevented  that  way. 

"  Item.  That  there  may  be  a  convenient  quantity  of  meadow  laid  out  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  said  town,  or  their  deputies,  to  the  parties  above  said,  for  their  comfortable  sub- 
sistence in  that  place.  And  that  the  parties  above  said  shall  only  keep  their  own  sheep  in  & 
upon  their  said  land,  &  commons  adjoining,  &  not  take  cattle  to  foragement  and  de- 
pasture in  the  commons  of  the  said  town. 

"  Item.  That  the  aforesaid  parties  &  their  heirs  be  subject  to  all  taxes  &  rates  of  the 
said  town  wherein  they  have  a  common  benefit,  together  with  said  town,  &  are  subject 
to  the  officers  of  said  town,  save  only  in  watching  &  warding. 

"Item.  That  there  may  be  liberty  to  said  parties  to  take  in  two  more  inhabitants  by 
full  consent  &  approbation  of  the  town  of  Fairfield  ;  &  that  they  be  approved  as 
aforesaid,  there  may  be  like  quantity  of  upland  &  meadow  set  out  to  them  by  the 
town  upon  the  terms  aforesaid. 

"Item.  It  is  agreed  that  if  the  said  town  &  the  parties  are  not  agreed  between 
themselves  about  the  upland  &  meadow,  then  the  court  to  be  indifferent  judges."  * 

*  It  was  to  this  deed  that  William  Hill  attached  his  written  testimony  of  Roger  Ludlow  leav- 
ing Jhe.town  records  in  his  hands. — State  Archives,  No.  52,  Vol.  I.,  Town  and  Lands. 


1648]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  57 

The  two  parties  chosen  to  join  this  enterprise  were  Daniel  Frost,  of 
Fairfield,  and  Francis  Andrews,  of  Hartford.  This  land,  which  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Maxumux  Indians,  stretched  from  a  white  oak  tree  near 
Frost  point,  one  English  mile  along  the  sea  coast  towards  Compaw,  and 
six  or  seven  miles  inland.  The  Maxumux  Indians  lived  on  an  elevated 
bank  east  of  this  strip  of  land  overlooking  a  grand  expanse  of  water,  Long 
Island  in  the  distance,  and  a  charming  view  of  meadows  and  fine  rolling 
hills  on  the  west,  north  and  north-west  A  few  years  after  they  removed 
from  their  sea-side  planting  field  to  Clapboard  hill,  which  was  set  apart 
as  a  reservation  for  them. 

Each  of  these  five  farmers  were  granted  ten-acre  home-lots.  Daniel 
Frost's  home-lot  lay  on  the  point,  and  was  "  bounded  on  the  north  &  west 
with  the  highway,  on  the  east  with  the  land  of  the  Old  Indian  field  ;  & 
on  the  south  with  the  sea  beach."  Henry  Gray's  home-lot  was  next  west 
of  Daniel  Frost's.  Thomas  Newton's  lay  west  of  Henry  Gray's.  John 
Green's  and  Francis  Andrew's  lay  west  of  Thomas  Newton's.  The  name 
of  Maxumux  gave  place  to  that  of  Bankside,  and  the  planters  were  for 
several  years  called  "The  Five  Bankside  Farmers"  and  "The  We.st 
Farmers."  John  Green  became  so  prosperous  a  land-holder,  that  the 
name  of  Green's  Farms  was  applied  to  the  vicinity  west  and  north-west 
of  Bankside  as  early  as  1699.*  Near  the  west  limits  of  this  purchase,  was 
an  island  of  about  one  hundred  acres,  first  named  Farmer's  island,  and  the 
Great  island,  then  Fox  island,  and  in  time,  falling  into  the  possession  of  the 
Sherwood  family,  it  came  to  be  called  Sherwood's  island.  West  of  this 
island  lay  another  of  about  ten  acres  which  has  always  been  known  as  the 
little  island.  East  of  Sherwood's  island,  standing  well  out  in  the  Sound, 
was  still  another  small  island,  which  has  entirely  been  washed  away  by  the 
action  of  the  waves  and  storms  of  more  than  two  centuries. t  At  the  sitting 
of  the  General  Court  in  May,  Ludlow  offered  a  motion  that  Moses  Wheeler 
should  be  made  a  ferryman  across  the  Housatonic  at  Stratford,  which  was 
also  referred  to  the  next  court  at  Fairfield,  "  both  in  behalf  of  the  country 
&  the  town  of  Stratford."  % 

On  the  2d  of  February  Henry  Jackson  was  given  liberty  from  the  town 
to  erect  a  grist  mill  on  Uncoway  creek.§  A  severe  law  was  enacted  to 

*  Letter  A  of  Town  Deeds,  p.  262. 

f  Testimony  of  Captain  Franklin  Sherwood  of  Sherwood's  island,  and  Captain  Ephraim  Burr 
of  Fairfield. 

JCol.  Rec.  Conn.,  163. 

§  B,  Town  Votes,  1648.  This  will  appear  to  have  been  erected  near  the  mouth  of  the  stream, 
or  creek,  which  empties  into  the  west  side  of  the  Uncoway  river  near  Black-rock  bridge.  The 


58  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1648 

prevent  the  Dutch  from  selling  arms  or  ammunition  to  the  Indians,  under 
which  any  of  them  found  guilty  of  this  offense,  not  subject  to  the  laws  of 
the  colony,  "  should  be  shipped  for  England  &  sent  to  Parliament."  In 
July  every  soldier  belonging  to  the  train-bands  was  granted  half  a  pound 
of  powder  a  year,  to  be  used  on  training  days,  which  was  to  be  provided 
by  the  masters  and  governers  of  each  family  in  which  said  soldiers  belonged, 
to  be  called  for  and  used  at  the  discretion  of  the  captains  or  principal  offi- 
cers of  the  train-bands. 

At  this  time  Connecticut  seemed  nearly  overpowered,  not  only  by  the 
claims  of  Massachusetts,  but  by  those  of  the  renowned  Peter  Stuyvesant, 
who  claimed  that  all  the  territories,  rivers,  streams  and  islands  from  Cape 
Henlopen  to  Cape  Cod,  and  all  the  lands  and  plantations  in  the  united 
colonies,  belonged  to  the  Dutch  under  an  ancient  grant  to  the  Dutch, 
and  afterwards  purchased  by  them  of  the  Indians.  They  also  demanded  a 
ship  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  seized  in  the  Harbor  of  New  Haven. 
The  hostile  attitude  of  the  Dutch  and  the  murder  by  the  Indians  of  one 
John  Whitmore,  a  highly  respectable  resident  of  Stamford,  as  well  as  the 
murder  of  several  Englishmen  who  were  part  of  a  crew  belonging  to  a 
vessel  which  had  been  cast  away  near  Long  Island,  rilled  the  minds  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  Stamford,  and  others  along  the  coast,  with 
the  greatest  anxiety  for  their  own  safety. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  on  the  seventh  of  September 
at  Plymouth,  Governor  Hopkins  and  Ludlow,  represented  Connecticut. 
John  Endicot  and  Simon  Bradstreet  were  present  from  Massachusetts, 
William  Bradford  and  John  Brown  from  Plymouth,  and  Governor  Eaton 
and  John  Astwood  from  New  Haven.  This  was  a  gathering  of  some  of 
the  most  noted  and  sterling  characters  of  New  England,  men  whose  faces 
were  care-worn  with  anxiety  of  mind,  furrowed  and  w^eather-beaten  with 
fatigue  consequent  upon  their  frequent  long  journeys  by  sea,  or  through 
the  almost  trackless  wilderness  of  New  England. 

Soon  after,  Uncas,  with  several  of  his  men,  was  sent  to  Stamford  to 
discover  the  murderers  of  Mr.  Whitmore.'"  The  passage  through  Fair- 
field  of  so  great  a  chief  must  have  created  considerable  excitement  and 
curiosity  on  the  part  of  the  planters  as  well  as  of  the  natives.  Uncas 
having  questioned  the  principal  Indians  of  Stamford,  discovered  that  the 

hill  which  rises  on  the  north-west  of  this  stream  has  always  been  called  the  "  Old  Mill-hill,"  or 
the  "  Old  Mill-lot."  From  the  mill  the  river  was  forded  towards  Pequonnock,  until  within  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  when  the  Black-rock  bridge  was  built. — Testimony  of  Mr. 
Stephen  Morehouse. 

*  Trumbuli's  Hist.  Conn.,  p.  181. 


1649]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  59 

son  of  one  of  the  sachems,  and  another  Indian  "  fell  a  trembling,"  and 
were  believed  to  be  the  conspirators  in  the  murder;  but  before  they 
could  be  seized  they  both  made  good  their  escape.  The  other  Indians, 
either  through  fear  of  their  sachem  or  out  of  attachment  to  his  son, 
could  not  be  induced  to  testify  against  them.  Thomas  Newton,  who 
had  been  one  of  the  most  enterprising  planters  in  Fairfield,  at  this  time 
fell  into  trouble  with  the  authorities  of  the  town  and  colony ;  and  to 
escape  the  severity  of  the  law  for  the  charge  brought  against  him — which 
Savage  says  was  probably  witchcraft — he  escaped  from  prison  and  fled  to 
the  Dutch  for  protection.  A  large  reward  was  offered  to  secure  his 
return  ;  but  he  was  protected  by  the  Dutch  governor,  who  believed  him 
innocent,  and  who  afterwards  made  him  one  of  his  military  captains. 
He  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Newtown,  Long  Island. 
Several  planters  at  Fairfield  were  fined  twenty  shillings  at  the  time  of  his 
escape;  and  Thomas  Staples  was  fined  forty  shillings,  which  leads  to  the 
suspicion  that  his  friends  believed  him  innocent.* 

The  Narragansetts  and  the  Nehantics,  still  intent  upon  their  treacherous 
course  toward  the  English,  had  not  fulfilled  their  promises  ;  but  on  the 
contrary  had  hired  the  Mohawks  and  the  Pocomtock  Indians  to  unite 
with  them  in  totally  destroying  Uncas  and  the  Mohegans.  The  fear  of 
an  Indian  war  was  as  great  at  this  time  as  when  the  Pequots  threatened 
the  extermination  of  the  whites.  Thomas  Stanton  was  timely  dispatched 
to  confer  with  them.  Upon  his  arrival  he  found  the  Pocomtocks  assem- 
bled and  awaiting  the  Mohawks,  but  upon  his  informing  them  that  the 
English  were  resolved  to  defend  Uncas  at  all  costs,  they  abandoned  their 
project  and  returned  home.  The  Narragansetts  and  the  Nehantics  thus 
finding  themselves  deserted,  gave  up  their  design. 

Ludlow  was  this  year  chosen  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  General 
Court,  and  George  Hull  and  Andrew  Ward  deputies  from  Fairfield.  To 
the  application  made  in  May  of  the  previous  year  by  Ludlow  and  the 
Fairfield  deputies  that  Maxumux  or  Bankside  should  be  set  forth  upon 
the  borders  or  within  the  limits  of  Fairfield,  the  General  Court  appointed 
Daniel  Titterton  and  John  Hurd  of  Stratford  to  survey  and  view  the  said 
land,  "&  consider  thereupon  how  convenient  it  is  for  them  &  inconvenient 
for  this  commonwealth  to  have  the  said  premises  settled  upon  the  town 
of  sd.  Fairfield,  &  make  return  thereof  to  the  next  General  Court."  Twenty 
pounds  required  and  paid  by  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  was  declared  in  full 
of  all  accounts  for  their  proportion  of  the  public  rates.  Ludlow  was 

*Col.  Rec.   Conn.,    I,    174.      Rev.   B.    F.  Reylea's  Hist.  Disc,  on  the  1501  li  anniversary  of  the 
church  in  Green's  Farms,  p.  n. 


60  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1649 

appointed  to  levy  the  taxes  at  the  seasons  agreed  upon  by  the  people  of 
Stratford  "  both  for  what  is  lacking  &  also  for  the  future,"  toward  the 
maintainance  of  their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Adam  Blackmail. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  fort  and  buildings  at  Saybrook,  which  had 
been  purchased  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  of  Mr.  Fenwick  in 
1648,  and  destroyed  by  fire  soon  after,  should  be  rebuilt  at  a  point  called 
New  Fort-hill  at  the  charge  of  the  commonwealth.  At  a  particular 
court  held  in  Hartford  on  the  /th  of  June,  Mr.  John  Webster  of  Hartford 
was  appointed  to  assist  Ludlow  in  holding  a  particular  court,  at  Stratford 
"next  Thursday  come  fortnight  "  for  the  execution  of  justice.  On  the 
22d  of  July  a  special  meeting  of  the  commissioners  was  held  at  Boston,  at 
which  '  time  it  was  resolved  that  the  sachem  of  Stamford,  whose  son 
was  supposed  to  have  murdered  Mr.  Whitmore  should  be  seized  and 
imprisoned  until  the  murderer  was  given  up  to  justice;  the  murderers  of 
the  Long  Island  seamen  and  planters  were  likewise  demanded.  But  a 
short  time  before  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  a  bold  attempt  had 
been  made  upon  the  life  of  Uncas,  by  an  Indian  hired  by  the  Narragan- 
setts  and  Nehantics  to  assassinate  him.  The  wounds  he  received  were  at 
first  thought  to  be  mortal,  but  he  soon  recovered,  and  appearing  before  the 
commissioners  at  this  time,  eloquently  set  forth  his  long  and  valuable 
services  in  the  defense  of  the  English  and  their  rights  ;  and  urged  as  a 
return  of  his  faithfulness,  that  they  should  provide  for  his  safety  and 
avenge  his  cause.  A  rumor  was  in  circulation  that  a  daughter  of  Nini- 
grate  was  about  to  marry  a  brother  or  son  of  Sassacus.  This  gave  ground 
to  fear  that  a  plot  was  now  on  foot  by  the  Narragansetts  and  Nehantics 
to  collect  the  scattered  Pequots  and  to  return  them  to  their  own  country 
as  a  separate  nation.  The  commissioners,  regarding  an  Indian  war 
inevitable,  gave  orders  that  all  the  colonies  should  forthwith  be  made 
ready  for  such  an  emergency."-" 

At  this  time  the  Massachusetts  commissioners  objected  to  any  decision 

*  The  Pequots  given  to  Uncas  had  revolted  from  him,  on  account  of  the  severity  of  his  treat- 
ment, which,  was  proved  to  be  true.  lie  was  reproved  by  the  commissioners,  and  fined  a  hundred 
fathom  of  wampum.  Having  resolved  that  the  Pequots  should  never  again  become  a  distinct 
tribe,  Uncas  was  required  to  receive  them  under  his  protection  and  to  treat  them  kindly.  This, 
however,  the  Pequots  refused,  and  yearly  sent  in  their  petition  to  the  commissioners  to  be 
allowed  to  settle  by  themselves  under  the  control  of  the  English.  They  pleaded  that  Wequash 
had  said,  if  they  departed  from  their  country  and  were  kind  to  the  English  they  would  be  treated 
well  by  them.  Upon  due  consideration  it  was  recommended  that  Connecticut  should  allow  them 
a  suitable-amount  of  land  for  them  to  dwell  apart  from  the  Mohegans.  In  the  mean  time  they  were 
advised  to  return  to  Uncas,  who  was  counseled  to  govern  them  without  revenge  and  with  kindness. 
— Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  i,  186,  187. 


1649]  DISCOVERY   AND    SETTLEMENT  6l 

of  the  other  commissioners  in  regard  to  the  Connecticut  boundary  line  and 
the  purchase  of  the  fort  at  Saybrook  until  Connecticut  exhibited  her 
patent,  and  proved  priority  of  possession  before  the  date  of  John  Winthrop's 
arrival  at  Saybrook.  To  their  arbitrary  pleadings  Governor  Hopkins  and 
Ludlow  responded,  reminding  them  that  the  situation  of  Connecticut 
in  1638  was  a  very  different  one  from  that  of  the  present  time.  They 
disclaimed  all  right  of  priority  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts,  on  the 
ground  that  having  departed  from  that  jurisdiction  upon  their  own  deter- 
mination, and  withdrawn  without  any  form  of  government,  they  had  not 
considered  themselves  within  the  boundaries  of  their  patent  ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  within  the  limits  of  the  Connecticut  patent  of  Viscount  Say  and 
Seal,  Lord  Brook  and  their  associates,  and  therefore  involved  in  their 
interest.  In  regard  to  the  Connecticut  patent,  they  showed  that  a  copy 
of  it  had  been  exhibited  at  the  time  of  the  confederation,  "  which  had 
been  well  known  to  many,"  and  that  it  had  recently  been  acknowledged 
by  the  honorable  committee  of  Parliament  ;  and  that  all  included  within 
its  limits  had  been  given  equal  privileges  and  power,  as  all  ethers  under 
the  patents  of  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth.  In  reference  to  any  breach 
of  brotherly  love  between  the  colonies,  they  claimed  that  love  was  ever  to 
be  based  upon  truth  and  peace  ;  and  "  that  in  all  the  proceedings  of  the 
confederation,  it  was  their  desire  that  truth  &  peace  might  embrace  each 
other;  "  and  "that  all  things  which  were  rational  &  consistent  with  truth 
&  righteousness  should  never  be  an  occasion  of  offence  to  any." 

Governor  Haynes  laid  a  copy  of  the  Connecticut  patent  before  the 
commissioners,  and  the  governor  offered  to  prove  its  validity  upon  oath.* 
They  acknowledged  that  they  had  not  the  original  Connecticut  patent,  but 
a  copy  of  it,  to  the  truth  of  which  Governor  Hopkins  was  willing  to  give 
oath.-j-  At  a  particular  court,  held  the  I3th  of  September,  at  Hartford, 
when  acting  upon  the  vote  of  the  commissioners,  it  was  decided  to  make 
war  upon  the  Stamford  Indians,  in  order  to  induce  them  to  deliver  up  the 
murderers  of  Mr.  Whitmore.  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Mr.  Tallcot,  of  Hartford, 
were  appointed  "to  ride  over  to  New  Haven  the  next  day  to  confer  with 

*Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I,  189.  Referring  to  the  removal  of  the  Connecticut  planters  from 
Massachusetts,  Johnson,  in  his  Wonderworking  Providence,  says:  "With  whom  went  the  grave  & 
reverend  servants  of  Christ,  Mr.  Hooker  &  Mr.  Stone,  for  indeed  the  whole  Church  removed,  as 
also  the  most  honored  Mr.  Haynes  &  divers  other  men  of  note,  for  the  place  being  out  of  the 
Massachusetts  patent,  they  erected  another  government  called  by  the  Indians  Connectico,  being 
further  encouraged  by  two  honorable  personages,  the  Lord  Say  &  the  Lord  Brook,  who  built  a 
fortress  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  &  called  it  Saybrook  Fortress  " 

f  A  copy  of  this  patent  was  found  by  Governor  Winthrop  among  the  official  papers  of  Governor 
Hopkins  after  his  death. — Conn.  Col  Rec.,  vol.  I.,  p.  569. 


62  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1649 

Governor  Eaton  &  the  other  magistrates  of  that  colony,  about  this 
matter,  &  to  return  as  speedily  as  possible." 

On  the  1 8th  of  September  Ludlow  was  appointed  by  the  General 
Court  of  Connecticut  to  prepare  the  soldiers  of  Fairfield  and  Stratford 
with  provisions  and  all  other  necessaries  for  the  design  upon  the  Stamford 
Indians.  George  Hull,  of  Fairfield,  and  William  Beardsley,  of  Stratford, 
were  chosen  to  assist  him.  This  movement  so  alarmed  and  intimidated 
the  Stamford  Indians,  that  they  proved  peaceable  ever  afterwards;  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  the  murderers  were  given  up  to  justice. 

A  form  of  church  discipline,  entitled  the  Cambridge  platform,  having 
been  agreed  upon  at  Boston  on  the  i/th  of  October  by  the  ministers 
throughout  New  England,  it  was  adopted  by  the  General  Court  and  all  the 
churches  of  Connecticut  soon  after.  This  platform,  with  the  ecclesiastical 
laws  of  the  colonies,  formed  the  religious  constitution  of  the  Established 
Church  of  New  England  for  about  sixty  years,  or  until  the  Saybrook  plat- 
form was  agreed  upon. 

Within  the  past  two  years  affairs  of  grave  importance  had  taken  place 
in  England.  Cromwell,  who  had  become  "  entire  master  of  Parliament 
&  of  the  king,  attempted  to  quell  the  disorders  he  himself  had  so  artfully 
raised."  He  called  a  secret  council  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  army,  with 
a  view  of  debating  the  best  mode  of  governing  the  nation,  and  of  dis- 
posing of  the  king's  person.  Charles  had  offered  to  resign  to  Parliament 
"  the  power  of  the  army  &  the  nomination  of  all  the  principal  officers, 
provided  at  his  death  these  prerogatives  should  revert  to  the  crown." 
(December  24,  1647.)  The  Independents,  however,  who  had  the  Parlia- 
ment in  control,  coerced  them  into  sending  four  proposals  to  the  king  of 
such  a  character  as  left  him  only  the  power  to  reject  them.  On  the  3d 
of  January,  1648,  Parliament  voted  "  that  no  more  addresses  should  be 
sent  to  the  king,  nor  any  letters  or  messages  received  from  him  ;  &  that 
it  should  be  treason  for  any  one,  without  leave  of  the  two  houses  to  hold 
any  intercourse  with  him."  From  this  time  Charles  I.  was  in  reality 
dethroned,  and  the  constitution  formally  overthrown.  The  king  was 
placed  in  close  confinement ;  cut  off  from  his  friends,  correspondents, 
and  even  deprived  of  his  servants.  The  Scotch  in  vain  protested  against 
the  course  pursued  by  Cromwell  and  the  Independents.  In  ail  parts  of  the 
kingdom  tumults,  insurrections,  and  conspiracies  prevailed,  which  Crom- 
well's army  soon  subdued.  In  vain  Prince  Charles  in  July  (1648)  with 
offers  of  ships  from  the  English  navy,  made  every  effort  in  Holland  and 
at  home  to  restore  his  father  to  the  throne.  Step  by  step  the  unhappy 
king  was  stripped  of  all  temporal  power,  and  upon  his  head  was  visited 


1649]  DISCOVERY   AND   SETTLEMENT  63 

the  sins  of  those  who  had  resolved  upon  his  death.  The  council  of  general 
officers  in  November  voted  that  the  king  should  be  "  proceeded  against 
in  the  way  of  justice."  Foremost  among  these  was  General  Edmund 
Ludlow,  a  cousin  of  Roger  Ludlow.  Cromwell  took  possession  of  the  Par- 
liament and  established  the  Rump,  as  it  was  called.  The  king  was  accused 
of  treason,  and  a  High  Court  of  Justice  appointed  to  try  him.  He  was 
brought  before  this  tribunal,  and  impeached  "  as  a  tyrant,  traitor,  mur- 
derer, &  a  public  and  implacable  enemy  of  the  commonwealth."  The 
unhappy  king  sustained  the  majesty  and  dignity  of  his  position.  "  He 
never  forgot  his  part  either  as  a  prince  or  a  man."  On  Saturday,  the  27th 
of  January,  1649,  judgment  was  pronounced  upon  him.  Only  two  days 
were  allowed  between  his  rentence  and  execution.  On  the  afternoon  of 
January  30  he  was  led  to  the  block.  As  the  executioner  severed  his  head 
from  his  body, "  a  deep  groan  burst  from  the  multitude."  His  son,  Prince 
Charles,  was  proclaimed  his  successor  on  the  iith  of  February  following; 
but  to  all  intents  Cromwell  was  the  ruling  spirit  of  this  unhappy  period. 

The  death  of  Charles  I.  was  received  by  all  the  American  colonies, 
except  those  of  New  England,  with  deep  sorrow  ;  with  the  latter  it 
was  looked  upon  as  the  overthrow  of  English  church  and  state,  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  new  government  based  upon  republican  principles,  and 
the  establishment  of  the  tenets  of  the  Independents.  They,  however,  did 
not  enjoy  their  full  anticipation  of  peace,  either  civil  or  religious.  "  Tlie 
rights  of  freemen"  became  the  one  all-absorbing  topic  of  the  day,  and 
dissatisfaction  and  gloom  followed  quickly  upon  the  news  of  the  unsettled 
state  of  affairs  in  the  mother  country. 


CHAPTER    II 

1650-1660 

WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS 

Original  plats  of  Fairfield  and  Pequonnock. — Planters  and  heads  of  families. — Assistant  and 
deputies  of  1650. — General  laws. — Election  sermons. — Lucilow  a  commissioner. — Witchcraft. — 
Trial  and  execution  of  Goodvvife  Knap. — War  between  England  and  Holland  — Trouble  with 
Indians. — Dutch  vessel  seized. — Supposed  plot  of  the  Dutch  and  Indians. — Fears  of  a  general 
massacre. — Preparations  for  war. — England  sends  arms  and  ammunition. — Ludlow  chief  mili- 
tary officer. — Pirates. — Commissioners  at  Boston. — Agents  sent  to  England  for  assistance. — 
Preparations  at  New  Amsterdam. — Severity  of  colonial  laws. — Invitation  to  Charles  II.  to  come 
to  America. — Oliver  Cromwell  Lord  Protector  of  England. — John  Underbill. — Two  Dutch  war 
vessels  enter  Black  Rock  harbor. — Death  of  Governor  Haynes  — A  Fast. — Fairfield  declares  war 
against  the  Dutch. — Ludlow  leaves  the  country. — His  detention  by  New  Haven. — Sails  for 
Virginia. — English  fleet  arrive  at  Boston. — Peace  proclaimed  between  England  and  Holland. 
— War  declared  against  the  Indians. — Six  men  to  join  the  army  from  Fairfield. — General 
training  day.— List  of  estates.— General  Thanksgiving. — Major  Willard's  course. — Pequots 
awarded  land. — Care  of  arms  and  ammunition. — -Trouble  with  the  Indians. — Pits  for  wolves. 
— Military  laws  for  Indians. — Games. — Lotteries. — Town  limits  extended. — Efforts  to  pacify 
Indians. — General  Fast. — Great  mortality. — Probate  Judges. — Colony  tax. —  Custom-house 
duties. — Temperance  laws. — Commissioners. — Law  for  magistrates. — Thanksgiving. 

HAVING  traced  the  principal  events  of  the  first  decade  of  the  settle- 
ment of  Fairfield,  the  opening  of  the  year  1650  introduces  us  to  the  early 
land  records  of  the  town.  Whatever  of  value  was  contained  in  the  first 
thirteen  pages  of  "Letter  A  of  Town  Deeds"  has  been  lost;  but  the 
following  pages  afford  clues  of  the  original  plats  of  Fairfield  and  Pequon- 
nock, which  the  diagrams  represent  between  1648  and  1654,  with  the 
names  of  the  settlers  who  occupied  them  during  the  period. 

The  movement  of  the  Bankside  farmers  resulted  in  the  sale  of  their 
home-lots  in  Fairfield.  This  is  recorded  on  the  thirteenth  page  of  Letter 
A  of  Town  Deeds,  where  we  learn  that  John  Banks,  who  had  previously 
lived  east  of  Hide's  pond,  and  sold  his  house  and  home-lot  to  Humphrey 
Hide,  on  the  I2th  of  May,  1650,  purchased  Daniel  Frost's  house  and  home- 
lot,  consisting  of  three  and  three-fourths  acres.  On  the  4th  of.  March,  1650, 
Simon  Hoyt,  of  Stamford,  who  had  been  granted  a  home-lot  west  of 
Hide's  Pond,  between  John  Thompson's  and  George  Goodwin's,  purchased 
John  Green's  house  and  home-lot.  The  sale  of  Thomas  Newton's,  on  the 
Ludlow  and  Newton  squares,  are  not  recorded  until  1653,  at  which  time 


1650] 


WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS 


THE    FAIRFIELD    PLAT   BETWEEN    1648    AND    1057. 


they  were  sold  by  Alexander  Bryan,  a  lawyer  and  real  estate  agent,  of 
Milford.  The  same  year  the  one  on  the  Ludlow  square  was  purchased  of 
Bryan  by  Andrew  Ward  (who  had  previously  purchased  John  Thompson's 
home-lot,  west  of  Hide's  Pond),  while  his  place  on  the  Newton  square  was 
occupied  by  Nathan  Gold,  who  removed  from  Milford  in  1649,  and  first 
occupied  John  Foster's  lot  in  the  Frost  square.  Gold's  purchase  of  this 
place  was  not  recorded  until  the  5th  of  December  1653,  he  having  previ- 
ously sold  it  to  Thomas  Sherwood.  Soon  after  purchasing  Thomas  Newton's 
lot,  Nathan  Gold  purchased  the  lot  next  above  it  first  granted  to  Richard 
Perry  in  1649,  an<^  ne  so^  the  Newton  lot  to  Dr.  Thomas  Pell.  Henry 
Gray  left  the  Frost  homestead,  the  use  of  which,  by  William  Frost's  will, 
was  given  to  him  and  his  wife  during  their  lives,  and  entailed  to  their  son, 
Jacob  Gray,  and  he  also  became  one  of  the  Bankside  farmers. 

The  house  and  home-lot  of  John  Gray,  who  appears  to  have  settled  at 
Newtown,  Long  Island,  was  purchased  by  Bryan  and  sold  on  the  iSth  of 
March,  1649,  to  Henry  Rowland.  Richard  Westcoat,  who  had  owned  the 
house  and  home-lot  between  John  Gray's  and  John  Nichol's,  died  soon 
after  he  settled  at  Fairfield.  His  widow  married  Nathaniel  Baldwin,  of 
5 


66 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


[1650 


V/ILUAM     OOELL 

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PASTURE. 


THE    1'EQUONNOCK    PLAT. 

Milford.  Baldwin  removed  to  Fairfield,  and  by  virtue  of  this  marriage 
occupied  the  dwelling  and  lands  of  Westcoat.  The  widow  of  William 
Hill,  sr.,  whose  husband  had  first  been  granted  a  home-lot  on  the  north- 
east side  of  Dorchester  street,  is  recorded  in  1649  as  living  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Newton  square."  It  was  not  an  unusual  thing  for  the 
planters  to  receive  grants  of  home-lots,  and  also  hold  others  purchased  or 
exchanged. 

The  Purely  lot  was  sold  to  Moses  Dimond  May  2,  1670,  at  which  time  John  Purely,  son 
of  Francis  Purely,  deceased,  lived  at  Enstchester.  The  Frost  lot  was  owned  by  Jacob 
Gray  until  1886,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  for  his  son  Samuel, 
and  deeded  to  him  the  6th  of  November  of  that  year. 

Henry  Whelpley  sold  his  lot  to  Alexander  Bryan,  who  resold  it  to  Alexander  Knowles 
I7th  January,  1653.  February  9,  1653,  Dr.  Thomas  Pell  purchased  Nathan  Gold's  house 
and  home-lot  next  the  parsonage  land.  December  8,  1653,  Nathan  Gold  purchased  Richard 
Perry's  home-lot,  which  was  afterwards  sold  to  Dr.  William  Ward.  The  Lewis  lot  was 
granted  by  the  town  to  William  Hill,  sr.,  February  13,  1670.  Jehu  Burr,  jr. 's,  land  is  not 
recorded  until  1670.  After  his  father's  death  he  purchased  of  his  brother,  John  Tkirr,  the 
home-lot  on  the  west,  next  to  Obediah  Gilbert's,  and  John  Burr  purchased  the  Pinkney  lot 
*  The  author  wns  under  the  impression  that  the  Probate  and  Town  Records  of  Fairfield,  as 
many  writers  have  hitherto  stated,  vere  carried  away  hy  Roger  Ludlow,  and  destroyed  when  Gen- 
eral Tryon  sacked  and  burned  the  town  in  1779.  Both  these  statements  are  without  foundation. 
The  vaults  of  the  town-house  contain  many  volumes  and  files  of  rich  historic  lore,  dating  from  1648 
to  the  present  time. 


1650]  WARS   AND   RUMORS   OF   WARS  67 

opposite  John  Gray's.     The  Hoyt  lot  was  sold  to  Andrew  Ward,  then  to  Edward  Adams, 
next  to  William   Hayden,  and  in  1666  to  Francis  Bradly. 

The  Pequonnock  plat  represents  occupants,  as  follows.  January  21,  1649,  Ephraim 
Wheeler  granted  from  the  town  one  home-lot,  consisting  of  three  acres,  more  or  less, 
bounded  north-west  with  the  high- way,  north-east  with  land  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  jr., 
south-east  with  the  land  of  James  Bennet,  and  south-west  with  the  highway.  In  January', 
1649,  James  Bennet  granted  from  the  town  a  home-lot,  consisting  of  2^  acres,  more 
or  less,  bounded  north-west  with  the  land  of  Ephraim  Wheeler,  north-east  with  the 
land  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  jr. ,  ^outh-east  with  the  land  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  sr.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1649,  Thomas  Wheeler,  jr.,  granted  from  the  town  one  home-lot,  2i  acres,  more  or 
less,  bounded  north-east  with  Thomas  Wheeler,  jr.,  north-west  with  the  land  of  James 
Bennet,  south-east  with  the  land  of  John  Evarts,  and  south-west  with  the  highway. 
January  8,  1649,  Joseph  Middlebrook  granted  from  the  town  one  home-lot,  consisting  of 
T.\  acres,  more  or  less,  bounded  north-west  with  the  land  of  John  Evarts,  north-east  with 
Benjamin  Turney  and  George  Starkey,  south-east  with  Peter  Johnson,  and  south-west  with 
the  highway.  December  3,  1653.  Formerly  granted  to  Richard  Roots  one  home-lot,  2i 
acres,  bounded  south-west  with  Henry  Jackson,  south-east  with  Robert  Turney,  north- 
east with  William  Odell,  north-west  with  the  highway. 

Richard  Roots  died  before  1653.  Michael  Fry  married  his  widow,  and 
settled  upon  his  home-lot.  Henry  Jackson  purchased  Thomas  Wheeler, 
jr.'s,  home-lot,  who  at  or  before  1653  had  built  a  house  at  Greenlea. 
George  Starkey  was  probably  the  same  person  who  died  in  London  in 
September,  1665,  where  he  practiced  medicine  during  the  terrible  plague 
which  prevailed  in  that  city. 

Among  the  other  early  Pequonnock  settlers  was  Samuel  Gregory,  who 
lived  near  the  foot  of  Golden-hill,  near  the  street  which  crosses  the  hill  to 
Stratford.  A  few  rods  east  of  the  military  park  were  some  three  acres  of 
peat  swamp  land,  which  was  used  as  fuel.  A  stone  quarry  lay  but  a  few 
rods  north-east  of  this  peat  land  ;  and  about  a  mile  to  the  north  was  still 
another  quarry.  West  of  the  military  green  was  the  first  burial  ground  of 
Pequonnock;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  it  was  used  for  this  purpose 
until  some  years  after  the  settlement,  when  by  a  vote  of  the  town  the 
Pequonnock  planters  were  granted  a  burial  place.  In  addition  to  the 
above  mentioned  names  the  following  list  gives  the  heads  of  other  families 
living  in  Fairfield  between  1639  and  1650: 

John  Cable.  George  Hull.  John  Tompkins. 

John  Chapman.  Cornelius  Hull.  John  Thompson. 

James  Beers.  Stephen  Hedge.  Charles  Tainter. 

Widow  Rachel  Brundish.         Timothy  Hoard.  Mrs.  Jane  Stalion  (Sterling). 

Thomas  Demond,  or  Dimond. Richard  Knowles.  Thomas  Sherwington. 

Thomas  Dickerson.  Richard  Lyon.  Robert  Wolly. 

Thomas  Dunn.  Robert  Lockwood.  Antony  Wilson. 

Samuel  Drake.  Thomas  Mayocke.  John  Whitlock. 

George  Goodwin.  Nehemiah  Olmstead. 


68 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


[1650 


There   were  probably  others,  but   those  only  have  been   given  which 

could  be  obtained  with  certainty.     The  list  of  land-holders  between   1650 

and  1700  who  did  not  share  in  the  land  dividends  of  the  town,  were  as 
follows  : 

Samuel  Allin.  Thomas  Disborow. 

Gideon  Allen.  John  Down. 

John  Allyn.  Moses  Demont,  or  Dimond. 

Thomas  Baxter.  Jonathan  Fanton. 

Robert  Bisbum.  Luke  Guire,  or  Weire. 

Thomas  Bedient.  Christopher  Godfree. 

John  Beardsley.  Philip  Galpin. 

Thomas  Barnum.  William  Hayclen. 

Richard  Burgis.  John  Herdinan. 


Joseph  Bastard,  or  Barstow.    Thomas  Hurlburt. 


John  Crow. 
William  Cross. 
Robert  Churchill. 
Henry  Castle. 
John  Crump. 
John  Campbell. 
Henry  Crane. 
John  Edwards. 
John  Eggleston. 
Albert  Dennie. 
John  Davis. 
Elias  Doughty. 


Esborn  Wakeman. 
Elnathan  Handford. 
Joseph  James. 
Samuel  Judson. 
Henry  Lyon. 
Walter  Lancaster. 
Robert  Lord. 
Lewis  Phillips. 
John  Mills. 
Thomas  Merwin. 
Peter  Mayoke. 
John  Mahew. 


Dongal  Mac  Kensey. 
Antony  Nouguier. 
Nehemiah  Omstead. 
•John   Plastead. 
John  Platt. 
John  Palmer. 
Joseph  Phippen. 
Samuel  Robinson. 
John  Read. 
Elisha  Risden. 
John  Ufford. 
John  Sorserer. 
Samuel  Summers. 
Samuel  Smedley. 
Samuel  Sherman. 
John  Thorp. 
John  Winters. 
Thomas  Williams. 
Nathaniel  White. 
Richard  Vowles,  or  Fowles. 
Philip  Vicars. 
Thomas  Yeow. 


John  Darling. 

The  soldiers  engaged  in  the  Pequot  war  of  1637  and  1638,  who  settled 
at  Fairfield,  were : 

Roger  Ludlow.  William  Hayden.  Thomas  Basset. 

Dr.  Thomas  Pell.  *  Thomas  Lyon.  f  John  Wood. 

James  Eggleston.  Samuel  Gregory.  Richard  Osborn. 

Nehemiah  Omstead. 

*  Dr.  Thomas  Pell  was  the  surgeon  from  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  who  accompanied  the  first  expedi- 
tion against  the  Pequot  forts  on  the  Thames  and  the  Mystic  rivers.  He  afterwards  purchased  the 
estate  at  Westchester,  which  had  belonged  to  the  unfortunate  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  and  which 
was  named  Pellham — ham  signifying  home  or  house.  Thirty  years  later  Jacob  Leisler,  acting 
Governor  of  New  York,  purchased  New  Rochelle  of  Dr.  Pell.  lie  was  "formerly  Gentleman  of 
the  Bedchamber  to  Charles  T."  He  married  the  widow  of  Francis  Brewster,  of  New  Haven, 
before  he  settled  at  Fairfield.  He  is  described  as  having  been  a  rank  royalist.  His  land  at  Fair- 
field  was  willed  to  his  nephew,  John  Pell,  of  London,  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Pell  of  that  city, 
who  came  to  this  country,  and  was,  by  a  record  in  the  Fairfield  probate  office,  acknowledged  a 
lawful  heir  ;  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have  settled  in  the  town. — Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's  Hist. 
New  York,  I.,  171.  Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary.  Fairfield  Probate  Records. 

f  There  were  possibly  others,  but  as  there  exists  no  regular  list  of  the  Pequot  soldiers,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  obtain  their  names. 


1650]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  69 

The  dividend  land-holders  will  be  given  in  the  years  in  which  the 
dividends  were  made.  All  persons  who  had  been  made  freemen,  and  con- 
tributed towards  the  purchase  of  Indian  lands,  were  allowed  to  be  dividend 
holders.  The  purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  land  did  not  result  in  its  full 
division  at  any  one  time;  but  as  many  acres  were  staked  out  from  time  to 
time,  as  the  planters  found  themselves  capable  of  improving.  These  divi- 
dends were  made  by  lotteries,  each  head  of  a  family,  his  wife  and  children 
drawing  as  many  acres,  half  acres,  quarter  acres  and  roods,  as  fell  to  his  or 
their  proportion,  at  their  town  and  county  rates. 

At  the  general  court  of  election  in  May,  Ludlow  was  chosen  one  of 
the  magistrates  of  the  colony,  and  George  Hull  and  Thomas  Sherwood 
deputies.*  A  grant  was  made  of  "  6s.  Sd.  to  the  common  soldiers,  & 
IDs.  a  piece  to  the  sergeants  for  the  loss  of  time  they  sustained  in  their 
late  expedition  against  the  Indians."  Foreigners  were  forbidden  to  retail 
goods  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut  for  the  space  of  one  year,  and  the 
planters  were  ordered  not  to  purchase  their  goods  during  that  time.  This 
was  no  doubt  intended  to  affect  the  thrift  of  the  Dutch  commerce,  as  well 
as  to  prevent  the  sale  from  the  French  and  Dutch  of  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion to  the  Indians.  The  petition  of  the  Bankside  farmers  was  also  taken 
into  consideration,  and  the  following  grant  awarded  them: 

"This  Court,  considering  the  return  of  Daniel  Titterton  &  John  Kurd,  about  a  par- 
cel of  land  lying  near  the  town  of  Fairfield,  according  to  their  order  from  the  General 
Court  of  Election,  in  May  1649,  do  grant  unto  the  said  town  of  Fairfield  the  said  parcell 
of  land  to  Saugatuck  river:  provided  the  said  Saugatuck  doe  not  extend  two  miles  from 
the  bounds  of  the  said  Fairfield."  t 

This  did  not  give  satisfaction  to  the  Bankside  planters,  who  had 
hoped  to  extend  their  claim  to  the  Saugatuck  river,  which  formed  the 
east  limit  of  Ludlow's  purchase  of  the  Norwalk  Indians  in  1640,  and  which 
he  afterwards  sold  to  the  Norwalk  planters.  The  Bankside  farmers  claimed 
that  the  lands  east  of  the  Saugatuck  had  no  lawful  owners.  On  the  other 
hand  the  Norwalk  planters  used  the  same  argument,  and  in  the  month  of 
June,  made  an  application  to  the  General  Court  for  the  rights  of  a  planta- 
tion, and  were  granted  liberty  to  extend  their  boundaries  to  the  west 
bounds  of  Fairfield.  The  provision  made  by  the  court,  that  the  west 
limits  of  the  Bankside  lands  should  not  extend  more  than  two  miles  west 
of  the  Fairfield  bounds,  ran  short  of  the  Saugatuck  river,  leaving  a  valuable 
tract  for  the  Norwalk  planters  to  claim  without  delay;  hence  a  bone  of 
contention  arose  between  the  two  plantations,  which  was  not  settled  for 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  207.  f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  208. 


70  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1651 

several  years.  They  believed  themselves  secure,  however,  in  the  lands 
they  had  cultivated,  which  included  within  their  limits  not  only  some  of 
the  richest  farming  lands  in  that  region,  but  Frost  point,  Farmer's  or 
Sherwood's  island,  Compo  point,  Turkey,  Clapboard,  Wakeman  and  Benja- 
min's hills,  commanded  some  of  the  finest  views  on  the  Sound. 

Thomas  Newton,  who  had  given  offense  to  the  town  authorities,  in 
1650  sold  out  his  right  in  these  lands,  which  in  1657  were  purchased  by 
Robert  Beacham  (or  Beuchamp)  of  Norwalk.  From  time  to  time  they 
were  joined  by  a  few  other  planters,  among  whom  were  Giles  Smith, 
Simon  Couch,  Henry  Plaistead,  Joseph  Lockwood,  Robert  Rumsie,  Robert 
Meaker  and  Thomas  Barnum.  The  Bankside  farmers  appear  to  have  lived 
in  a  luxurious  manner  for  those  days.  Some  of  them  owned  slaves,  and 
with  the  cheap  hire  of  Indian  labor,  they  reaped  large  and  valuable  crops. 
The  inventories  of  their  estates  exhibit  an  accumulation  of  handsome 
fortunes.  In  the  month  of  November  the  General  Court  ordered  that 
"  as  Fairfield  had  not  rendered  a  just  &  perfect  list  of  the  estates  of  her 
inhabitants,  according  to  the  order  of  the  Court,  that  the  sd.  town  should 
pay  twenty  nobles  as  a  fine  for  their  neglect  &  contempt  thereof;  &  that 
they  should  pay  rate  for  the  present  year"  according  to  the  estates 
they  had  formerly  given. 

It  is  noticeable  that  this  court  was  ordered  to  adjourn  to  the  second 
lecture  day  in  March  next  "  after  the  sermon,"  which  shows  that  a  sermon 
was  preached  by  some  invited  minister  at  the  adjournment,  and  not,  as  in 
after  years,  at  the  opening  of  the  court.  At  the  assembling  of  the  court 
of  election  in  May,  Ludlow  was  chosen  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  George 
Hull  and  Andrew  Ward  deputies.  Ludlow  was  also  chosen  one  of  the 
commissioners  of  the  united  colonies. 

The  fine  of  John  Banks,  Edward  Adams,  Phillip  Pinkney,  John  Hoit 
and  George  Godding  or  Goodwin  of  Fairfield,  who  had  been  fined  twenty 
shillings  apiece  for  assisting  Thomas  Newton  in  escaping  from  justice  to 
the  Dutch,  was  remitted  ;  but  Thomas  Staples,  who  appears  to  have  been 
the  leading  party  in  Newton's  escape,  did  not  fare  as  well,  his  fine  of 
forty  shillings  being  remitted  to  twenty  shillings.  The  commissioners  of 
Fairfield  and  Stratford,  who  had  not  previously  been  called  upon  to  attend 
the  yearly  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  river  towns,  were  now 
ordered  to  meet  annually  with  them  at  Hartford,  two  days  before  the 
sitting  of  the  General  Court  in  September,  and  bring  with  them  a  list  of  the 
persons  and  the  estates  of  their  towns,  that  they  might  be  examined  and  per- 
fected before  being  presented  to  the  General  Court.  The  fine  of  twenty 
nobles  against  Fairfield  .  was  remitted.  Thomas  Thornton  "  affirmed 


1651]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  Jl 

before  the  court,  that  it  was  reported  there  had  been  a  hundred  beavers 
killed  in  Fairfield  within  the  past  year."  It  was  about  this  time  that  the 
communities  of  Stratford,  Fairfield  and  the  neighboring  towns  were  seized 
with  the  mania  of  witchcraft.  They  were  thrown  into  an  alarming  state 
of  excitement  when  the  General  Court  ordered  Governor  John  Haynes, 
deputy-governor  Edward  Hopkins,  and  John  Collick  to  go  soon  to  Strat- 
ford to  attend  the  trial  of  one  Goody  Basset,  who  had  been  accused  of 
being  a  witch. 

The  belief  in  this  singular  delusion,  which  prevailed  not  only  in  Eng- 
land but  throughout  all  Europe,  had  its  day  in  New  England.  The  Bay 
State  suffered  far  more  than  Connecticut  from  its  unhappy  results.  The 
second  law  of  the  code  of  capital  laws  established  by  the  General  Court 
of  Connecticut  December,  1642,  required,  "  If  any  man  or  woman  be  a 
witch  (that  is)  hath  or  consulted  with  a  familiar  spirit,  they  shall  be  put 
to  death."  *  To  harbor  or  to  converse  with  a  witch,  was  therefore  not  only 
a  sin,  but  an  offense  in  the  eye  of  the  law.  To  rid  the  community  of 
persons  who  were  believed  to  hold  conversation  with  familiar  spirits,  and 
to  be  under  the  direct  influence  of  the  devil,  was  regarded  a  righteous 
act,  according  to  the  law  of  Moses.  To  cast  out  an  unclean  spirit  after 
the  example  of  our  Savior,  by  fasting,  prayer  and  supplication,  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  supposed  a  possibility.  The  trial  of  Goody  Basset, 
which  took  place  at  Stratford  at  the  appointed  time,  ended  with  a  sen- 
tence of  the  court  that  she  should  be  hanged  as  a  witch.  Before  her 
execution  she  was  heard  to  say,  "there  was  another  witch  in  Fairfield 
that  held  her  head  full  high." 

Shortly  after  this,  a  poor,  simple-minded  woman  living  in  Fairfield,  by 
the  name  of  Knap,  was  suspected  of  witchcraft.  She  was  tried,  con- 
demned and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.f  The  execution  took  place  in  Try's 
field,  which  is  described  in  the  will  of  Henry  Jackson  of  Pequonnock,  as 
lying  northwest  of  the  Indian  field.  At  the  assembling  of  the  General 
Court  on  the  nth  of  September  at  Hartford,  a  grand  list  of  the  inhabit- 
ants and  estates  of  the  towns  in  the  Connecticut  colony  was  presented. 
The  deputies  of  Fairfield  offered  a  list  of  names  and  estates,  the  sum  total 
of  which  amounted  to  £8,895  3.9.  The  previous  poll-tax  of  2s.  6d.  was 
reduced  "to  18  pence,  to  be  paid  one  third  in  wheat,  one  third  in  peas,  & 
one  third  in  good  wampum  or  Indian."  On  the  6th  of  October,  Andrew 
Ward  and  George  Hull  of  Fairfield,  and  William  Beardsley  of  Stratford, 
were  propounded  for  assistants  to  join  with  the  magistrates  for  the  execu- 

*  Ex.  22,  18.     Lev.  20,  27.     Deut.  18,   10,  n. 
f  New  Haven  Col.  Kec.,  I,  84-88. 


72  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1652 

tion  of  justice  at  the  seaside.  It  was  also  ordered  that  Norwalk  should 
send  one  inhabitant  to  Ludlow,  to  receive  the  oath  of  a  constable. 

Fairfield  and  the  English  settlements  on  the  Sound  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed at  this  time  by  the  troubles  which  existed  between  England  and 
Holland.  On  the  Qth  of  October,  1651,  England  framed  the  famous  act 
of  navigation,  by  which  all  nations  were  prohibited  from  importing  into 
her  ports  any  goods,  except  in  English  vessels  or  in  the  vessels  of  the 
country  where  the  goods  were  produced.  This  law  seriously  affected  the 
Dutch  shipping  interests,  as  they  had  largely  subsisted  upon  the  income 
derived  from  being  the  general  carriers  and  factors  of  Europe.  Hostilities 
at  once  opened  between  Holland  and  England,  and  extended  to  the 
colonies  in  America.  The  colonies  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  which 
had  previously  suffered  from  the  Dutch,  had  reason  to  be  seriously 
alarmed  at  the  course  which  the  Dutch  governor  of  New  Netherlands  at 
once  assumed.  Great  fears  were  also  entertained  of  a  general  uprising  of 
the  Indians  throughout  the  country.*  The  third  Wednesday  in  October 
was  appointed  "  as  a  day  of  fasting  &  humiliation  concerning  the  affairs 
of  our  native  country,  &  the  prevalence  of  a  grievous  disease  among  the 
colonists  of  Massachusetts." 

At  the  court  of  election  in  May,  1652,  Ludlow  was  chosen  an  assistant, 
and  Andrew  Ward  and  William  Hill  deputies  for  Fairfield.  Ludlow  was 
soon  after  appointed  a  commissioner  of  the  united  colonies  for  1653.  It 
was  ordered  at  the  same  time,  that  the  particular  courts  should  be  held 
two  days,  instead  of  one  day  before  the  assembling  of  the  two  General 
Courts,  in  May  and  September.  The  case  of  John  Cable  and  others  of 
Fairfield,  who  had  seized  a  Dutch  vessel  on  the  coast,  was  brought  before 
the  court.  After  weighing  the  matter,  the  court  decided,  "  that  consider- 
ing the  grounds  of  the  seizure  of  the  vessel  of  Oulsterman  at  Fairfield, 
&  the  parties  on  both  sides  having  submitted  themselves  to  the  judgment 
of  the  Court,  they  do  order,  that  upon  the  said  Dutchman's  paying  the 
said  seizors  the  sum  of  five  pounds  &  all  their  reasonable  costs,  his  vessel 
&  goods  should  be  delivered  up  to  him."  At  the  same  time  the  court 
ordered  that  the  fort  at  Saybrook  should  immediately  be  put  in  a  state 
of  defense.  Fairfield  and  Stratford  were  given  authority  to  elect  assistant 
judges,  to  aid  the  magistrates  of  the  said  plantations  in  holding  a  court 
within  their  jurisdictions  for  the  year  ensuing.  Ludlow  was  again  chosen 

*  A  quarrel  had  existed  between  Uncas  and  Sequassen  some  years  previous  ;  and  Uncas 
becoming  jealous  of  favors  shown  about  this  time  to  Sequassen  by  the  English,  appeared  before 
the  commissioners  in  September  and  demanded  redress  for  past  wrongs.  Ludlow  was  appointed 
to  settle  the  affair  between  the  two  chiefs. — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i,  228. 


1653]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  73 

a  commissioner  of  the  united  colonies.  At  a  session  of  the  General 
Court  in  October,  William  Hill  of  Fairfield.  was  appointed  to  require  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Norvvalk  the  reason  why  they  had  not  sent  deputies 
to  the  General  Court ;  and  that  the  court  expected  they  would  forth- 
with make  and  return  to  Ludlow  a  true  and  perfect  list  of  the  persons 
and  estates  in  their  town,  that  a  due  proportion  of  all  common  charges 
should  be  borne  by  them  with  the  other  towns  in  the  jurisdiction  of 
Connecticut. 

One-half  of  the  annual  tax  from  the  towns  due  to  the  colonial  treasury, 
was  ordered  to  be  collected,  one-third  in  wheat  at  four  shillings,  one-third 
in  peas  at  three  shillings,  and  one-third  in  Indian  corn  at  two  shillings  six 
pence  per  bushel.  Of  this  tax  Fairfield  bore  her  share  according  to  her 
rateable  list  of  £8,850  i$s.od* 

It  appears  at  this  time  that  there  was  a  scarcity  of  provisions  in  some 
of  the  plantations,  in  consequence  of  which  a  General  Court  was  called  in 
the  month  of  February,  and  an  order  passed,  that  "  no  person  in  any  of  the 
plantations  of  Connecticut  should  ship  or  allow  to  be  conveyed  out  of  the 
colony,  beef,  pork,  bacon,  butter,  cheese,  wheat,  rye,  peas,  Indian  corn, 
malt,  biscuit,  or  any  other  grain,  meat,  or  drink,  before  the  next  session  of 
the  General  Court,  without  a  license  from  an  appointed  committee,  under 
a  penalty  of  double  the  value  of  the  article  thus  exported."  On  account 
of  increasing  troubles  with  the  Dutch,  great  alarm  prevailed  in  the  New 
England  towns  on  Long  Island  Sound.  The  victory  of  Van  Tromp  over 
the  English  (December  9,  1652)  had  given  Governor  Stuyvesant  courage  to 
revive  the  old  claims  of  the  Dutch  in  Connecticut.  All  the  claims  which 
he  had  renounced  to  the  English  by  an  agreement  made  with  them  in 
1650  at  Hartford,  were  renewed,  and  as  by  this  agreement  the  east  bor- 
ders of  the  Dutch  province  extended  to  the  west  side  of  Greenwich  bay, 
a  distance  of  about  four  miles  from  Stamford,  great  alarm  prevailed  at 
Stamford,  Fairfield  and  the  English  towns  east  of  them,  upon  a  report 
having  reached  them,  that  the  Dutch  governor  had  entered  into  a  con- 
spiracy with  the  Indians  to  massacre  the  English. 

An  extra  session  of  the  commissioners  was  called  on  the  I7th  of  March 
and  iQth  of  April  at  Boston.  Ludlow  was  present  on  both  occasions,  and 
argued  strongly  that  men  and  arms  should  be  sent  for  the  protection  of 
Fairfield  and  the  adjacent  towns  on  the  Sound.  Upon  investigation  it 
was  discovered  that  Ninigret,  who  had  married  his  daughter  to  the  brother 
of  the  Pequot  chieftain  Sassacus,  with  the  hope  of  recovering  the  old 
territory  of  the  Pequots,  had  spent  the  winter  in  New  Amsterdam  with 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i,  236. 


74  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1653 

a  view  of  joining  Governor  Stuyvesant  against  the  English.  "  Nine 
Sachems  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Dutch,  sent  their  united  testi- 
mony by  an  agent  to  Stamford,  to  the  effect  that  the  Dutch  governor  had 
solicited  them  to  cut  off  the  English,  by  promising  them  guns,  powder, 
swords,  wampum,  coats,  &  waistcoats.  ...  It  was  rumored  that  the 
time  of  the  massacre  was  fixed  upon  the  day  of  the  public  election,  when 
the  freemen  would  generally  be  from  home."  The  state  of  alarm  at  Fair- 
field  and  the  neighboring  towns  was  so  great  that  the  usual  spring  plow- 
ing, sowing  and  planting  were  neglected.*  Watch  was  kept  night  and 
day,  until  men  were  worn  with  watching  and  guarding,  and  the  women 
and  children  with  sleepless  nights  and  anxious  days.  Great  expense  was 
occasioned  by  this  constant  vigilance. 

Six  of  the  commissioners  believed  the  reports  against  Stuyvesant ;  but 
before  they  commenced  hostilities,  it  was  decided  to  draw  up  a  general 
declaration  of  grievances  to  be  sent  to  him.  In  the  mean  time,  Stuyve- 
sant sent  letters  to  the  united  colonies,  in  which  he  absolutely  denied  any 
part  in  the  plot  with  which  he  was  charged.  He  offered  either  to  go  or 
send  to  Boston  to  prove  his  innocence,  or  to  allow  an  appointed  ambas- 
sador to  be  sent  to  the  Manhadoes  to  investigate  these  charges.  Francis 
Newman  of  New  Haven,  Captain  John  Leverett  (afterwards  governor  of 
Massachusetts),  and  Mr.  William  Davis,  were  invested  with  plenary  power 
to  investigate  the  affair,  and  to  receive  the  proposals  of  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernor. The  commissioners  were  requested  by  the  General  Court  not  to 
leave  Boston  until  the  messengers  returned  from  the  Manhadoes.  It 
was  also  ordered  that  a  speedy  messenger  be  sent  for  a  renewal  of  the 
commissions  from  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  which  had  just  expired, 
"  that  so  if  God  call  upon  a  war,  there  may  be  no  interruption  of  busi- 
ness." f 

During  the  absence  of  the  ambassadors  to  the  Dutch,  it  was  decided 
in  case  of  war,  that  five  hundred  men  should  be  raised  for  the  first  expe- 
dition, and  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  John  Leverett.  It  was 
also  agreed  that  if  war  should  take  place,  the  commissioners  should  meet 
at  New  Haven,  for  the  purpose  of  ordering  the  military  movements  of 
the  English  troops.  At  a  session  of  the  General  Court  held  at  Hartford 
on  the  1 4th  of  April,  speedy  supplies  were  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Captain 
Mason,  at  the  fort  at  Saybrook  ;  "  &  whatever  else  should  be  thought 
meet  by  Mr.  Ludlovv  &  Mr.  Cullick."  It  was  advised  that  all  the  scat- 
tered families  of  Saybrook  should  be  gathered  into  the  town.  It  was 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  213. 
f  Mass.  Col.  Rec.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  311. 


1653]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  75 

also  ordered  that  a  just  proportion  of  all  the  military  provisions,  which 
had  been  sent  from  England  for  the  protection  of  the  united  colonies, 
should  be  sent  to  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  for  the  defense  of  their 
towns.* 

Fresh  testimony  of  fidelity  of  the  Indians  was  required,  by  giving  up 
their  arms,  or  they  would  be  looked  upon  as  enemies  of  the  English,  and 
that  they  should  not  shoot  guns  or  walk  in  the  night,  unless  to  carry  mes- 
sages, in  which  case,  they  were  to  go  to  the  watchman,  who,  if  they  ran 
away'  was  ordered  to  shoot  them.  Ludlow  and  Captain  John  Cullock 
were  again  appointed  commissioners  for  the  year  ensuing,  "  &  invested 
with  full  power  to  agitate  such  occasions  as  concern  the  United  Colonies 
for  Connecticut,  according  to  their  former  commission."  Sixty  men  were 
ordered  to  be  pressed  as  the  quota  for  Connecticut,  to  make  up  the  five 
hundred  to  be  prepared  for  war.  Eight  of  these  men  were  to  be  taken 
from  Fairfield,  to  be  made  ready  to  march  at  a  day's  warning.  Lieuten- 
ant Cook  was  made  commander-in-chief.  The  other  officers  were  Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  Bull  of  Hartford,  Lieutenant  Thomas  Wheeler  of  Fair- 
field,  Sergeant  Richard  Olmstead  of  Norwalk,  and  Hugh  Wells  of  Wcth- 
ersfield,  drummer,  f  William  Hill  of  Fairfield,  was  chosen  one  of  a  com- 
mittee to  provide  provisions  suitable  for  a  service  of  two  months.  The 
messengers  sent  to  treat  with  Stuyvesant  returned  to  Boston  about  the 
last  of  May,  without  having  effected  any  satisfactory  communications  with 
him.  Further  evidence  was  brought  forward  of  the  preparations  the 
Dutch  governor  was  making  with  the  Indians  for  the  extermination  of  the 
English.  A  long  and  unsatisfactory  letter  was  read  from  Stuyvesant,  in 
which  he  again  renewed  his  claims  against  the  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven  colonies.  This  letter  so  exasperated  the  commissioners  that  all  of 
them,  except  Mr.  Bradstreet  of  Massachusetts,  at  once  voted  for  a  war 
against  the  Dutch.  Massachusetts  had  instructed  Bradstreet  not  to  give 
his  voice  for  war,  but  to  use  every  possible  endeavor  to  prevent  open  hos- 
tilities. In  consequence  of  his  opposition,  the  Bay  colony  was  charged 
with  a  violation  of  the  articles  of  union.  Many  in  Massachusetts  were 
displeased  with  the  action  of  the  General  Court.  They  argued  that  if 
they  "  should  neglect  to  engage  in  the  war,  it  would  be  a  declaration  of 

*  The  value  of  the  arms  and  ammunition  sent  out  by  England  at  this  time  was  estimated  at 
.£358  I2s.  8d.,  and  valued  in  the  colonies  at  ,£478  31.  4.-/.  "  For  these  supplies  payment  was 
to  be  made  by  such  of  the  colonies  as  should  receive  their  proportions,  within  two  months  there- 
after, and  the  amount  received  was  to  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  Indians,  as  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  United  Colonies  shall  from  time  to  time  direct." — [Rec.  of  U.  Colonies,  May,  1653.] 
Col.  Rec.  of  Conn. 

f  Massachusetts  ordered  333  ;  Plymouth,  60,  and  New  Haven,  42. 


76  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1653 

their  neutrality  in  the  contest,  &  might  be  viewed  in  that  light  by  the 
parliament,  &  be  of  great  &  general  disservice  to  their  interest." 

A  committee  of  conference  from  the  Plymouth,  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven  colonies  was  chosen,  to  set  before  the  court  of  Massachusetts  the 
danger  of  the  English  settlements,  and  also  to  seek  the  advice  of  the 
elders  of  the  Bay.  Ludlow  of  Fairfield  was  one  of  this  committee.  A 
committee  was  also  chosen  from  Massachusetts  to  meet  them.  A  warm 
debate  followed  ;  but  after  lengthy  protestations  on  both  sides,  the  vari- 
ous representations  made  were  submitted  to  the  grave  judgment  of  the 
elders  of  the  Bay,  who,  after  weighing  the  situation  carefully,  counseled 
"  that  it  would  be  safest  for  the  colonies  to  forbear  the  use  of  the  sword  ; 
but  advised  to  be  in  a  posture  of  defence  &  readiness  for  action,  until 
the  mind  of  God  should  be  more  clearly  known,  either  for  a  more  settled 
peace,  or  manifest  ground  of  war."  This  advice,  however,  did  not  change 
the  views  of  the  commissioners,  with  the  exception  of  Bradstreet. 

They  sent  warnings  to  the  General  Courts  of  each  colony  to  prepare 
for  war.  Connecticut  was  ordered  to  raise  sixty-five  men,  out  of  which 
number  Fairfield  was  to  send  eight.  Lieutenant  Thomas  Wheeler,  of 
Fairfield,  was  chosen  ensign  of  the  company.  Andrew  Ward  and  William 
Hill  were  made  commissaries,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  join  with  the 
constables  of  the  town  in  impressing  men  for  the  service.  The  military 
officers  of  Stratford  were  ordered  to  await  Ludlow's  return  from  Massa- 
chusetts, before  choosing  other  officers. f  An  extra  session  of  the  General 
Court  of  Connecticut  was  called  on  the  2$th  of  June,  when  it  was  decided 
to  press  upon  Massachusetts  the  necessity  of  a  war  with  the  Dutch  ;  and  if 
she  would  not  join  the  other  colonies,  that  she  would  at  least  give  them 
liberty  to  accept  volunteers  from  among  them  to  prosecute  a  war.  Gov- 
ernor Haynes  and  Ludlow  were  appointed  to  confer  with  Governor  Eaton, 
of  New  Haven,  upon  the  subject  :  "  also  about  a  ship  to  transport  troops, 
and  to  find  out  what  encouragement  they  should  send  to  the  English  & 
friendly  Indians  on  Long  Island."  They  found  Governor  Eaton  eager  to 
join  them  "  in  a  just  war  upon  a  rebellious  people,  the  measure  of  whose 
sins  were  then  full."  They  declared  "  such  a  war  to  be  like  that  of  David 
against  the  children  of  Ammon,  &  the  late  war  of  England  against  Scot- 
land. "|  Articles  were  drawn  asking  Massachusetts  that  if  she  could  not 
join  them,  to  agree  that  the  united  colonies  should  meet  in  New  Haven 
to  conduct  the  war.  New  Haven  agreed  to  join  Connecticut  in  purchasing 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  203. 

f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  243. 

\  Col.  Rec.,  New  Haven,  I.,  4-22. 


1653]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  7/ 

a  frigate  on  the  Connecticut  river,  and  to  fit  her  with  ten  guns  and  other 
necessary  supplies,  to  coast  up  and  down  between  the  mouth  of  that  river 
and  Stamford,  for  the  protection  of  the  towns  on  the  Sound.  The  result 
of  these  measures  was  another  meeting  of  the  commissioners  at  Boston  on 
the  nth  of  September  (Ludlow  was  present,  having  been  commissioned 
on  the  I  ith  of  August).  After  a  stormy  debate,  which  came  near  destroy- 
ing the  union  of  the  colonies,  Massachusetts  utterly  declined  to  unite  in  a 
declaration  of  war  against  the  Dutch.  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  were 
therefore  left  to  bear  the  brunt  of  their  unhappy  situation,  without  the 
assistance  which  they  thought  they  ought  to  expect  from  the  Bay  state. 
Both  colonies  held  a  General  Court  in  October,  and  agreed  to  appeal  to 
England  for  redress.  They  also  resolved  to  purchase,  and  man  with  forty 
men,  the  frigate  before  mentioned,  to  cruise  up  and  down  the  Sound  to 
prevent  the  alarming  extent  of  piracy  which  existed  ;  to  protect  the  Con- 
necticut and  New  Haven  towns,  and  the  English  settlements  belonging  to 
those  colonies  on  Long  Island;  as  well  as  to  intercept  and  prevent  Nini- 
grate  from,  forming  an  alliance  with  the  Dutch  and  Indians  of  Long  Island 
and  New  York. 

Captain  John  Astwood  was  sent  as  a  special  agent  from  New  Haven  to 
Cromwell  and  the  Parliament  to  solicit  aid  in  reducing  the  Dutch.  Letters 
were  dispatched  from  Connecticut  to  Parliament,  to  General  Worth  and 
to  Mr.  Edward  Hopkins,  who  was  then  in  England. 

An  attack  from  the  Dutch  was  expected  at  any  moment,  as  it  was 
known  that  they  were  awaiting  a  reinforcement  from  Holland.  It  was 
expected  that  when  the  Dutch  ships  should  give  a  signal,  the  Indians 
would  rise  and  begin  their  savage  work  by  firing  the  English  towns  and 
massacring  the  inhabitants.  Meanwhile  Stuyvesant,  as  much  alarmed  as 
the  English,  made  every  preparation  of  defense  at  New  Amsterdam  ;  and 
the  people  "  for  once  agreed  to  submit  to  a  tax  for  digging  a  ditch  from 
the  North  to  the  East  rivers,  &  the  erection  of  a  breast-work  &  palisadoe 
to  secure  the  town  from  attack."  The  alarm  of  the  Dutch  at  an  impend- 
ing English  and  Indian  invasion  was  most  distressing,  for  they  had  every 
reason  to  believe  that  unless  speedy  succor  was  sent  them  from  Holland, 
they  would  be  overpowered  by  the  English,  who  far  exceeded  them  in 
numbers.*  Great  dissatisfaction  prevailed  at  this  time  in  New  England 
with  the  rigor  of  the  colonial  laws.  The  Dutch  were  equally  dissatisfied 
with  the  tyrannical  rule  of  Governor  Stuyvesant.  The  mild  policy  of 
Connecticut  stood  out  in  strong  relief,  in  comparison  with  that  of  the 
other  colonial  jurisdictions. 

*  Bryant's  Hist.  United  States,  I.,  140-147. 


78  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1653 

The  turbulent  state  of  affairs  in  England,  after  the  death  of  Charles  I., 
seriously  affected  the  English  colonies,  and  "  the  liberties  of  the  people," 
were  the  daily  theme  of  conversation.  On  the  i6th  of  December,  1653, 
Oliver  Cromweli  was  given  the  title  of  "  His  Highness  the  Lord  Protector  of 
England."  He  was  intrusted  with  the  authority  of  which  they  had  deprived 
their  king.  Meanwhile  Charles  II.,  having  escaped  from  England,  found 
a  safe  refuge  among  his  friends  on  the  continent.  Governor  Sir  William 
Berkeley,  of  Virginia,  had  sent  an  invitation  to  Prince  Charles  to  come  to 
Virginia  and  be  their  king,  which  awakened  a  great  excitement  in  all  the 
American  plantations/"  George  Baxter,  who  had  been  the  former  English 
secretary,  and  James  Hubbard,  of  Gravesend,  L.  I.,  made  themselves  con- 
spicuous, both  in  the  Dutch  and  English  colonies,  by  stirring  up  a  feeling 
of  rebellion  against  the  Dutch  governor,  who  not  only  expelled  them  from 
his  jurisdiction,  but  obliged  all  the  English  under  his  authority  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Dutch  province.  Captain  John  Underbill,  of  Stam- 
ford, who  had  been  of  great  service  to  the  Dutch,  hoisted  the  colors  of 
Parliament  at  Flushing  and  Hempstead,  and  issued  a  manifesto  setting 
forth  the  impositions  practiced  upon  the  liberties  of  the  people  by  taxes; 
appointing  magistrates  without  the  vote  of  the  people  ;  violation  of  con- 
science, and  conspiring  with  the  Indians  to  murder  the  English.  He  was 
seized  and  imprisoned,  but  the  Dutch  governor  soon  after  released  him. 
He  then  proceeded  to  Rhode  Island,  •  where  he  was  made  commander- 
in-chief  of  a  band  of  volunteers,  and  without  delay  marched  to  the  fort 
of  Good  Hope  on  the  Connecticut  ;  but  finding  it  empty  he  posted  upon 
the  door  a  notice,  "  Jo  :  Underbill  [did]  seaze  upon  this  hous  and  lands 
thereunto  belonging,  as  Dutch  goods  claymed  by  the  West  India  Company 
in  Amsterdam,  enemies  of  the  Commonwealth  of  England."  He  then 
disbanded  his  company  of  twenty  volunteers,  and  sold  out  the  fort  and 
the  Dutch  land  adjacent,  on  his  own  account,  for  twenty  pounds  sterling. 
About  a  month  later  he  gave  a  second  deed  of  the  same  lands  to  another 
party. 

Instigated  by  Robert  Basset  and  John  Chapman  of  Stamford,  the  inhab- 
itants of  Stamford  exhibited  great  dissatisfaction  with  the  government  of 

*  "  The  Virginia  colonists  were  staunch  loyalists.  Governor  Berkeley  ruled  Virginia  under  a 
commission  from  Prince  Charles,  the  exiled  son  of  Charles  I  The  Republican  Parliament  of 
England  was  offended  by  the  persistent  attachment  of  the  Virginians  to  royalty,  &  early  in  the 
spring  of  1652  sent  Sir  George  Ayscue  with  a  powerful  fleet  to  reduce  them.  Meanwhile  Berke- 
ley &-  the  Cavaliers  or  Royalists  had  resolved  not  to  submit,  &  had  sent  a  messenger  to  Breda,  to 
invite  Prince  Charles  to  come  over  &  be  their  king.  He  was  preparing  to  come,  when  affairs  took 
a  turn  in  England,  which  foreshadowed  a  speedy  restoration  of  monarchy  there." — Student  Hume, 
p.  768. 


1654]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF    WARS  79 

New  Haven.  They  complained  of  neglect,  bad  government  and  unreasona- 
ble taxes  ;  that  the  people  were  deprived  of  their  liberties  and  denied  just 
privileges.  They  assumed  to  set  up  for  the  government  of  England 
against  that  of  the  colony  of  New  Haven.  They  demanded  that  New 
Haven  should  prosecute  the  war  against  the  Dutch,  and  allow  them  to 
raise  men  in  other  towns;  and  that  they  were  resolved  to  raise  men  for 
this  purpose  among  themselves. 

About  the  time  that  Governor  Berkeley  and  the  Virginia  cavaliers 
invited  Prince  Charles  to  come  over  and  be  their  king,  a  mariner  by  the 
name  of  Thomas  Adams  "  (as  he  called  himself),  though  in  apparel  & 
carriage  he  acted  a  part  as  if  he  had  been  the  king  of  Scots  or  some  great 
prince  (though  not  willing  to  be  known)  &  by  some  was  called  (King  Tom  )," 
came  to  Stamford.*  He  was  entertained  by  Robert  Basset,  who  pre- 
sented him  with  "  guns  at  parting,"  being  fully  satisfied  in  his  own  mind, 
as  he  afterwards  declared,  that  he  was  the  king. 

As  Rhode  Island  was  not  recognized  by  the  New  England  colonies, 
her  inhabitants  declared  for  Parliament,  and  took  measures  to  subdue  the 
Dutch  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Captain  Thomas  Baxter,  who  is  some- 
times confused  with  the  above  George  Baxter,  sailed  from  Rhode  Island, 
and  by  virtue  of  a  commission  given  him  from  that  colony  "  under  the 
commonwealth  of  England,"  captured  without  discrimination  both  Dutch 
and  English  vessels.  Near  the  Manhadoes  he  seized  a  Dutch  vessel 
belonging  to  a  Mr.  Mayhew,  and  brought  her  into  Black  Rock  harbor. 
Without  delay  the  Dutch  prepared  two  war  vessels  with  ammunition  and 
cannon,  and  with  one  hundred  men,  who  were  dispatched  to  Connecticut, 
and  "  lay  in  the  road  near  the  opening  of  Fairfield  harbor  "-—Black  Rock. 
The  appearance  of  these  men-of-war  caused  great  excitement  at  Fairfield. 
A  public  meeting  was  called,  and  it  was  voted  by  the  townsmen  that  an  army 
should  be  immediately  prepared,  not  only  for  the  protection  of  the  town, 
but  to  make  war  upon  the  Dutch.  Ludlow  was  appointed  commander-in- 
chief.  Firmly  persuaded  than  an  attack  might  be  made  upon  the  town 
at  any  moment,  Ludlow  accepted  the  office  as  one  of  military  necessity, 
and  at  once  began  to  drill  the  men  and  prepare  for  any  emergency.  He 
immediately  wrote  to  Governor  Eaton  notifying  him  of  his  appointment. 
His  letter  was  read  before  a  General  Court  assembled  at  New  Haven  on 
the  22d  of  November,  1653. 

After  a  long  consultation  held  by  Governor  Eaton  with  the  magistrates, 
deputies,  and  most  of  the  elders  in  the  New  Haven  colony,  it  was  decided  : 
"  It  being  so  near  winter,  &  the  want  of  suitable  vessels  &  the  like,  they 

*New  Haven  Col.  Rec.,  II.,  60. 


80  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [!654 

did  not  see  themselves  called  upon  to  vote  for  a  present  war,  but  to 
suspend  a  full  issue  till  Connecticut  jurisdiction  be  acquainted  with  it,  & 
give  notice  what  they  will  do  ;  but  if  tlicy  agree  to  carry  it  on  now,  then 
this  court  agrees  to  join  with  them,  &  to  meete  again  to  consider  &  order 
as  the  case  may  require." 

About  the  1st  of  March  orders  reached  the  New  England  colonies  from 
Cromwell  and  the  Parliament,  that  the  Dutch  were  to  be  treated  as  the 
enemies  of  England.  The  General  Court  of  Connecticut  met  on  the  6th 
of  March,  and  ordered  that  a  special  warrant  should  be  granted  Jonathan 
Gilbert  to  arrest  Thomas  Baxter  of  Fail-field,  for  disturbing  the  peace  of 
the  colony.  Stamford  and  Fairficld  were  each  required  to  choose  one 
man,  and  present  their  names  to  the  next  court  of  election,  as  assistants 
to  the  magistrates. 

During  the  winter  a  sad  calamity  fell  upon  the  colony,  by  which  it  was 
deprived  of  the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  one  of  its  most  popular  leaders. 
Governor  John  Haynes  died  on  the  1st  of  March,  1654.  He  was  a  gentle- 
man of  good  family,  and  owned  a  fine  estate  called  Copford  Hall,  in  Essex, 
England.  He  was  distinguished  for  his  abilities,  prudence  and  piety.  He 
spent  his  money  freely,  and  endured  many  hardships  and  perils  for  the 
advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  colony.  He  was  associated  with 
Ludlow  in  many  important  offices  of  trust,  and  warmly  sympathized  with 
him  in  his  responsibilities  at  this  critical  time.  The  General  Court  assem- 
bled at  Hartford  on  the  6th  of  March,  when  it  was  ordered  that,  "  In 
respect  of  a  sad  breach  God  has  made  upon  us  by  the  sudden  death  of  our 
late  Governor,  &  the  like  mortality  of  our  neighbors  in  the  Bay,  some 
eminent  removals  of  others,  &  spreading  opinions  in  the  colonies,  the  condi- 
tion of  our  native  country,  the  alienation  of  the  Colonies  in  regard  of  the 
combination,"  the  I5th  of  March  should  be  set  apart  as  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  throughout  the  jurisdiction. 

On  the  8th  of  March  the  General  Court  of  New  Haven  ordered  the 
arrest  of  Thomas  Baxter  and  John  Youngs,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Youngs 
of  Southold,  Long  Island.  The  latter  had  been  heard  to  say  that  he 
would  procure  sixty  men  at  Uncoway  to  garrison  Southold,  to  defend  him 
against  the  power  of  New  Haven.  Upon  leaving  Southold  he  had  been 
arrested  and  imprisoned  by  the  Dutch,  and  a  second  order  was  given  for 
his  arrest  from  New  Haven,  as  soon  as  he  was  released  from  confinement 
at  the  Manhadoes.  Thomas  Baxter  was  accused  "  of  plundering,  spoiling 
&  robbing  ;  &  of  taking  a  vessel  which  belonged  to  the  Plymouth  Colony, 
to  the  great  damage  of  sundrie  persons."  He  was  soon  after  arrested  at 
Fairfield,  and  on  the  loth  of  March  was  brought  before  the  New  Haven 


1654]  WARS  AND   RUMORS  OF  WARS  8 1 

magistrates.  He  was  charged  with  seizing  Mr.  Mayoe's  vessel  without  a 
proper  commission,  and  "  with  many  miscarriages  of  a  high  nature  at  Fair- 
field."  He  was  also  accused  of  flourishing  a  flag  and  beating  a  drum  at 
Stamford  to  call  volunteers  to  go  against  the  Dutch  ;  of  threatening  the 
constable  there  and  those  who  opposed  him  ;  of  seizing  a  canoe  belonging 
to  one  of  the  magistrates,  and  striking  with  a  half-pike  upon  the  head  and 
shoulders  the  ward  who  attempted  to  detain  it.  It  was  charged  that  one 
of  his  men  drew  his  cutlas  and  struck  at  the  ward's  hand,  while  the 
others  stood  with  their  guns  cocked  declaring  they  would  shoot ;  and  that 
he  had  detained  a  servant  of  Mr.  Fowler's  until  he  saw  fit  to  send  him 
home.  To  these  charges  he  pleaded  that  he  thought  his  commission 
from  Rhode  Island  warranted  him  to  seize  any  Dutch  vessels  while  they 
were  the  enemies  of  the  Commonwealth  of  England.  Having  heard  him 
thus  far,  the  magistrates  of  New  Haven  decided  to  send  him  to  Connec- 
ticut to  answer  for  what  he  had  done  in  that  jurisdiction^  Two  of  his 
men,  William  Ellitt  and  Abraham  Frost,  of  Stamford,  were  brought  in  as 
prisoners.  It  was  also  decided  to  send  them  to  the  General  Court  of 
Connecticut.  John  Odell  of  Pequonnock,  being  present,  was  then  called 
upon  by  the  marshal  of  Connecticut  to  testify  in  regard  to  the  conduct  of 
the  prisoners,  before  sending  them  to  be  tried  by  the  Connecticut  court, 
which  he  did  as  follows: 

"  John  Odell  testifyeth  under  oath  that  as  Baxter's  men  went  up  &  down  the  streets 
of  Fairfield,  with  their  swords  drawn  in  their  hands,  he  heard  William  Ellitt  sweare  with  a 
great  oath  (but  knowes  not  the  words)  that  with  them  hands  of  his,  he  would  be  avenged 
upon  the  blood  of  some  of  them,  which  had  taken  his  Captain,  &  he  supposed  their  was 
about  a  dozzen  of  them,  which  so  rurin  with  their  swords  drawn." 

Lieutenant  Cook  and  Goodman. Lewis  of  Hartford,  Edward  Parker  and 
Daniel  Hopper,  who  were  sent  from  New  Haven  to  Fairfield  to  take  Baxter 
and  his  men,  were  also  brought  before  the  court.  They  testified  that  upon 
the  arrest  of  Baxter,  Robert  Basset  ran  after  Lieutenant  Cook  and  his  men 
with  high  and  offensive  words.  He  demanded  that  Lieutenant  Cook  put  up 
his  sword  ;  that  they  then  seized  and  disarmed  him  and  carried  him  with 
Baxter  to  the  house  where  the  latter  was  kept  a  prisoner ;  but  that  Basset 
soon  went  away  without  leave.  They  further  testified  that  they  thought 
Basset  instigated  the  riot  which  followed,  for  he  had  been  away  but  a  short 
time,  when  a  party  of  men  assaulted  the  guard  who  had  charge  of  Baxter. 
A  skirmish  took  place,  in  which  one  of  Baxter's  men  was  killed,  and  one  of 
Lieutenant  Cook's  men  wounded.  Soon  after  Basset  returned  and  plead  for 
the  release  of  Baxter.  Goodman  Lewis  testified  that  after  Basset's  arrest, 
6 


82  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1654 

while  walking  with  him,  he  told  him  that  he  had  heard  he  had  been  active 
in  drawing  men  together  against  the  commonwealth  where  he  lived  ;  and 
that  he  said  he  would  be  a  "  reformer  not  only  of  commonwealths,  but  of 
churches  also."  Basset  did  not  deny  this  charge,  but  replied,  "  indeed  this 
is  the  thing  that  troubles  me,  that  we  have  not  our  vote  in  our  jurisdiction 
as  others  have,  &  instanced  the  Connecticut  jurisdiction."  He  showed 
great  contrition  before  the  court,  and  acknowledged  that  he  had  been 
engaged  with  John  Youngs,  one  Captain  Eaton,  Jeremiah  Jaggers  and  Wil- 
liam Newman  and  old  Newman,  at  Stamford,  in  raising  volunteers  to  make 
war  upon  the  Dutch  ;  and  also  of  receiving  and  concealing  a  seditious  let- 
ter against  the  commonwealth  of  New  Haven,  to  overthrow  the  colonial 
government  both  of  church  and  state.  It  was  proved  that  he  and  his 
companions  had  set  out  with  a  view  of  visiting  all  the  towns  west  of  New 
Haven,  to  arouse  a  seditious  spirit  among  the  people,  which  they  had 
carried  out,  until  they  were  on  their  way  from  Norwalk  to  Fairficld,  when 
they  were  arrested  by  two  commissioners  from  New  Haven,  and  tempo- 
rarily lodged  in  the  Fairfield  jail.  He  was  ordered  to  give  up  the  seditious 
papers  which  he  and  John  Chapman  had  used  along  the  coast  ;  and  until 
such  papers  were  found,  he  was  to  be  put  in  irons.  He  pleaded  guilty  of 
all  the  charges  brought  against  him,  but  upon  exhibiting  a  penitent  spirit, 
and  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  New  Haven  colony,  he  was 
allowed  to  return  to  Stamford.* 

The  trial  of  Baxter  and  those  engaged  with  him  continued  until  the 
latter  part  of  March,  when  it  was  again  decided  that  he  should  "  be  sent 
to  Connecticut,  to  see  what  they  would  do  with  him."  The  others  were 
heavily  fined  and  bound  under  large  bonds  for  their  future  loyalty  to  the 
government  of  New  England. 

At  the  assembling  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  at  Hartford  on 
the  6th  of  March,  Thomas  Baxter  was  fined  seventy  pounds,  to  be  paid  to 
the  colony  treasury,  and  that  he  should  give  bonds  of  two  hundred  pounds, 
at  the  hand  of  some  good  and  satisfactory  security,  for  his  good  behavior 
for  one  year.  He  was  also  ordered  to  pay  Mr.  Mayhew,  the  owner  of  the 
Dutch  vessel  which  he  had  taken,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds,  f 

Captain  John  Underhill's  seizure  and  sale  of  Fort  Good   Hope  was  not 

*  New  Haven  Col.  Rec.,  2,  48-57.  Basset  owned  a  home-lot  in  Fairfield  in  1653.  Baxter 
.also  pretended  to  live  in  Fairfield  in  1654.  His  wife  Bridget  was  divorced  from  him  by  an  order 
,of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  in  1662.  John  Chapman  had  lived  in  the  New  Haven  colony, 
uwas  in  Fairfield  in  1647,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Stamford. 

•(•Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  i,  253. 


1654]  WARS  AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  83 

recognized  by  the  court,  which  decided  "  that  in  consideration  of  the  order 
sent  over  by  authority  from  the  Parliament  of  England,  for  all  due  encour- 
agement &  assistance  against  their  enemies  the  Dutch,"  that  the  Dutch 
house  Good  Hope  and  lands  should  be  claimed  by  the  English  until  a  trial 
could  be  had.  Meanwhile  all  improvement  of  those  lands  was  prohib- 
ited without  the  consent  of  the  court. 

At  this  alarming  period  in  the  history  of  New  England,  the  sale  of 
liquor  among  the  Indians  had  become  a  dangerous  source  of  evil  ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which  at  the  sitting  of  this  court,  a  stringent  law  was  passed 
against  the  sale  of  wine  or  liquor  to  the  Indians,  under  a  penalty  of  "  five 
pounds  for  every  pint  sold,  &  forty  shillings  for  the  least  quantity."  It  was 
ordered:  "All  Barbadoes  liquor,  commonly  called  '  Ruin  Kill  Dcviir  or 
the  like,"  if  landed  in  any  place  in  the  Connecticut  jurisdiction,  should  be 
forfeited  to  the  commonwealth,  "  two  thirds  part  to  be  paid  into  the  public 
treasury,  &  one  third  to  the  party  who  seized  the  liquor."  A  duty  of 
"ten  shillings  was  levied  upon  every  anchor  of  liquor,  forty  shillings  upon  a 
butt  of  wine,  twenty  shillings  upon  a  hogshead  of  wine,  ten  shillings  upon 
a  cask,  whether  they  were  full  or  noe."  No  person  was  allowed  to  retail 
liquor  without  a  license  from  the  General  Court,  under  a  penalty  of  twenty 
shillings.  The  insurrection  instigated  by  Baxter,  Youngs,  Basset  and 
their  companions  against  the  Dutch  and  the  colony  of  New  Haven, 
brought  about  the  necessity  of  strong  legislative  action  in  Connecticut, 
and  specially  in  New  Haven,  where  every  effort  was  made  to  prevent  a 
civil  war  at  home.  The  appearance  of  two  Dutch  men-of-war  at  the 
entrance  of  Black  Rock  harbor,  led  those  of  calm  judgment  and  thoughtful 
consideration,  to  think  the  advice  of  the  elders  of  the  Bay,  not  altogether 
unreasonable.  Nevertheless  the  Connecticut  magistrates  resolved  to  root 
out  the  Dutch  within  the  jurisdiction.  It  is  shown  in  the  above  account 
that  during  the  fiery  ordeal  through  which  Fairfield  passed,  neither  her 
chief  officers  nor  citizens  gave  any  countenance  whatever  to  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Baxter,  Youngs,  or  Basset. 

The  course  pursued  by  Ludlow  in  preparing  troops  for  the  defense  of 
the  town,  was  in  every  way  in  accordance  with  the  office  which  had  been 
assigned  him  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut.  In  the  month  of 
April,  1653,  he  had,  with  Mr.  Cullick,  been  given  power  to  impress  men  in 
the  river  towns  for  the  protection  of  the  Saybrook  fort  and  river  inhabi- 
tants. On  the  1 8th  of  June  following,  with  Mr.  Cullick,  he  was  "  invested 
with  full  power  to  agitate  such  occasions  as  concerned  the  United  Colo- 
nies, according  to  their  former  commission"  While  attending  the  meeting 
of  the  commissioners  in  May,  the  General  Court  voted  "  that  there  should 


84  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1654 

be  no  change  made  in  the  military  officers  at  Stratford,  during  his  absence," 
thus  giving  him  power  to  appoint  officers  by  the  sea-side.  On  the  2/th  of 
July  he  was  appointed  with  Governor  Haynes  to  treat  with  Governor 
Eaton  and  the  New  Haven  magistrates,  about  purchasing  and  fitting  out 
a  man-of-war  to  cruise  up  and  down  the  Sound,  to  protect  the  English 
settlements  on  the  Long  Island  and  the  Connecticut  coast,  and  also  to 
treat  with  the  English  and  the  friendly  Indians  of  Long  Island  in  making 
preparations,  should  war  be  declared.  Therefore  when  an  armed  vessel 
from  the  Manhadoes  appeared  in  the  harbor  of  his  own  town,  Ludlow  not 
only  acted  under  the  power  of  his  commission,  but  with  the  judgment  and 
necessary  precaution  due  to  the  citizens  of  Fairfield.  By  a  vote  of  the 
freemen  of  Fairfield  he  was  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of  the 
town,  which  was  a  lega1!  action  according  to  a  law  of  the  colony  that  each 
town  should  choose  its  own  officers ;  but  they  had  no  legal  authority  to 
declare  war  without  the  sanction  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united 
colonies,  which  both  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  declared  had  been 
dissolved  by  Massachusetts.  With  one  hundred  armed  men  from  the 
Manhadoes  lying  off  their  harbor,  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield  would  have 
been  arrant  cowards  if  they  had  not  declared  war  against  the  Dutch,  and 
gone  out  to  defend  their  homes  and  firesides,  in  case  of  an  attack  from  the 
ships,  which  their  formidable  appearance  in  the  harbor  gave  occasion  to 
expect  at  any  moment. 

If  the  chief  townsmen  of  Fairfield  in  1779  had  been  as  active  as  they 
were  in  1654,  Fairfield  would  never  have  passed  through  the  ordeal  of  fire 
and  devastation  at  the  hands  of  the  British  by  Tryon  and  his  troops.  The 
state  legislature  of  Connecticut  has  never  appeared  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  danger  to  which  the  towns  within  her  jurisdiction  bordering  upon 
Long  Island  Sound  have  been  exposed.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact,  however, 
that  on  the  I4th  of  April,  1653,  Ludlow  was  appointed  with  Mr.  Cullick  to 
take  all  prompt  and  necessary  measures  for  the  defense  of  Saybrook  and 
the  river  settlements.  The  General  Court  of  Connecticut,  even  at  this 
critical  moment,  went  so  far  as  to  order  the  seizure  of  the  Dutch  fort  Good 
Hope  and  lands  at  Hartford,  while  Fairfield,  left  to  protect  herself,  even  as 
in  1779,  for  want  of  necessary  legislative  action,  was  made  a  conspicuous 
mark  for  any  foreign  enemy  to  plunder  and  destroy. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  course  pursued  by  the  General  Court  and 
commissioners  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  marked  caution  at  this  time  in  the 
policy  of  the  General  Courts  of  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  by  which 
Ludlow  found  himself  and  his  townsmen  left  exposed  to  the  mercy  of  the 
Dutch  and  Indians,  were  the  leading  causes  which  led  to  his  removal  from 


1654]  WARS   AND   RUMORS   OF   WARS  8$ 

New  England.*  Added  to  these,  he  must  have  been  overwhelmed  with 
astonishment  and  disgust,  when  a  disgraceful  suit  for  slander  was  brought 
against  him  by  Thomas  Staples,  of  Fairfield,  by  which  an  attempt  was 
made  to  fasten  upon  him  a  prevalent  report,  which  almost  every  leading 
man  and  woman  in  the  town  of  Fairfield  had  in  vain  endeavored  to  prove 
by  the  witch  Knap,  viz.  :  that  Mrs.  Thomas  Staples  was  a  witch.  He 
gathered  affidavits  from  a  large  majority  of  the  citizens  of  Fairfield,  which 
he  left  in  the  hands  of  his  attorney,  Alexander  Bryan,  of  Milford,  clearly 
setting  forth  the  injustice  of  the  charges  brought  against  him.f  There 
exists  no  authority  whatever  for  the  statement  advanced  by  some  writers, 
that  Ludlow  conceived  that  the  just  reprimand  of  Baxter,  who  at  best  was 
but  a  piratical  character,  of  Basset  and  Youngs  who  were  proven  leaders 
of  a  band  of  outlaws,  was  aimed  as  a  reproof  to  him.  He  contin- 
ued to  occupy  his  place  as  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  General  Court 
until  April,  and  was  present  on  the  6th  of  March,  1654,  when,  "  some  emi- 
nent removals  from  the  colony"  were  mentioned  among  the  causes  for  ap- 
pointing a  day  of  special  fasting  and  prayer,  which  undoubtedly  referred 
to  him. 

He  was  no  longer  a  young  man.  For  twenty-four  years  he  had  given 
the  prime  of  his  life  in  an  active  and  Herculean  service  in  building  up  a 
republic  in  New  England.  With  an  Englishman's  pride  and  ambition,  he 
hoped  to  extend  the  possessions  of  his  native  country  throughout  America. 
The  Dutch,  in  his  estimation,  were  but  mere  intruders  between  the  New 
England  and  Virginia  colonies.  An  imminent  war  with  them,  a  threat- 
ened civil  war  in  the  New  Haven  colony,  the  prospect  of  a  rise  among  the 
Indians,  which  he  could  plainly  see  must  sooner  or  later  be  inevitable,  and 
the  increasing  political  and  ecclesiastical  troubles  of  the  New  England 
colonies,  no  doubt  led  him  to  desire  a  safer  and  a  happier  home  for  him- 
self and  his  family.  He  therefore  resolved  to  return  to  England.  Before 
taking  leave  of  his  friends  in  America,  he  made  preparations  to  visit  his 
brother,  George  Ludlow,  who  owned  a  large  plantation  at  Yorktown,  in 
Virginia.  It  would  scarcely  be  expected  that  Ludlow  would  be  a  favorite 
with  the  New  Haven  colonists.  From  the  date  of  his  settlement  at  Unco- 
way  to  the  present  period  of  his  life  in  New  England,  he  had  been  strongly 
opposed  to  New  Haven  being  a  separate  colony.  He  chartered  a  ship 
carrying  ten  guns,  of  one  Captain  John  Manning  of  Milford,  to  convey  him 
with  his  family  and  effects  to  Virginia.  It  was  found,  however,  that  Cap- 
tain Manning  had  been  engaged  during  the  winter  in  trading  between 

*  Life  of  Roger  Ludlow  in  New  England.     Appendix  No.  I. 

f  See  Suit  of  Thomas  Staples  against  Roger  Ludlow.     Appendix  No.  II. 


86  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1654 

the  planters  of  Virginia  and  the  Dutch  of  New  Amsterdam,  which  was 
strictly  prohibited  by  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  colonies;  and,  as 
Milford  belonged  to  the  New  Haven  colony,  both  he  and  his  vessel  were 
seized  by  the  authorities  of  that  jurisdiction. 

Ludlow  laid  before  Governor  Eaton  the  great  inconvenience  and  dam- 
age which  the  staying  of  the  ship  would  be  to  him  ;  and  demanded  a  writ- 
ten statement  of  the  grounds  of  its  detention.  The  governor  furnished 
the  reasons,  when  Ludlow  laid  claim  to  the  vessel  as  his  own,  probably 
because  he  considered  it  such  after  he  had  hired  it  for  his  own  private  use. 
But  upon  being  reminded  he  had  previously  stated  that  he  hired  it,  and 
"  that  men  need  not  hire  that  which  is  their  own,"  it  was  at  length  agreed 
that  he  should  leave  one  hundred  pounds  of  his  estate  in  the  hands  of 
Alexander  Bryan  of  Milford,  as  security  that  Manning  would  present  him- 
self "to  the  authorities  in  England,  before  the  20.  of  October,  to  answer 
the  charges  made  against  him  ;  &  to  abide  their  censure—  "  provided  that 
upon  receiving  notice  from  thence  of  the  decision  they  would  be  satisfied 
to  release  the  securities  furnished.  In  the  mean  time  Ludlow  required 
papers  to  the  effect  that  Captain  Manning  and  his  vessel  might  be  at  his 
service  "  in  all  ways  allowed  by  the  state  of  England."  But  before  he 
and  Manning  had  left  New  Haven,  it  was  discovered  that  Manning's 
seamen  "  had  struck  against  orders  &  with  a  high  hand  &  threatening 
speeches  "had  carried  away  his  vessel.  They  were  pursued  by  a  shallop 
containing  thirteen  armed  men  sent  out  from  Milford.  Ludlow  and  Cap- 
tain Manning  were  immediately  sent  for,  and  informed  of  this  offense. 
Upon  Ludlow's  being  asked  if  he  would  give  the  security  which  he  had 
promised,  he  declined  to  do  so,  because  the  vessel  had  left  Milford.  In 
the  mean  time  the  vessel  was  so  hotly  pursued  by  the  shallop,  that  her 
men  escaped  in  a  skiff,  leaving  her  adrift,  taking  with  them  the  captain's 
trunk,  books  and  writings.  The  forsaken  vessel,  with  a  considerable 
expense  and  hazard,  was  recovered  and  brought  back  to  Milford,  when 
"Ludlow  again  tendered  the  former  securities;"  but  Jiaving  refused  it, 
while  the  vessel  was  in  the  hands  of  Mannings  men,  a  trial  of  the  case  was 
ordered  before  the  General  Court  of  New  Haven.  Manning  was  charged 
with  having  ordered  his  men  out  of  the  harbor  of  Milford,  to  await  his 
overtaking  them,  which  he  denied.  He  was  fined,  however,  the  sum  of 
twenty  shillings,  for  telling  "  two  lyes,"  made  to  bear  all  the  expenses 
of  the  trial  at  New  Haven  and  at  Milford,  and  sent  to  England  to  be  pun- 
ished for  trading  with  the  Dutch.  The  Milford  men  who  recovered  his 
vessel  were  granted  twenty  shillings  apiece,  and  their  court  fees.  Man- 
ning's vessel,  which  was  pronounced  a  prize,  was  ordered  to  be  sold  at 


1654]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  87 

Milford  on  the  following  Tuesday,  "  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  by 
an  inch  of  the  candle." 

Soon  after,  the  26th  of  April,  Ludlow  took  leave  of  his  friends  in  Con- 
necticut, and  sailed  for  Virginia.  It  must  have  been  with  a  keen  pang  of 
sorrow  that  he  bade  adieu  to  Fairfield,  which  he  had  watched  with  the 
pride  of  a  father  in  its  growth  out  of  a  wilderness  into  a  beautiful  town. 
Had  he  remained  in  Connecticut  his  talents  would  undoubtedly  have  won 
for  him  a  higher  position  than  he  had  previously  occupied.  But  his  work 
in  New  England  had  been  accomplished.  It  was  a  noble  work,  which 
more  than  two  centuries  after  he  left  the  country,  stands  out  as  a  colossal 
monument  to  his  genius  and  to  his  memory.  His  dwelling,  home-lot  and 
pasture  lot  were  left  with  William  Hill  for  sale,  and  were  purchased  by 
Nathan  Gold  on  the  i8th  May,  1654.* 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  or  early  spring  of  1654,  Ludlow  paid  a 
visit  to  the  Rev.  John  Davenport,  of  New  Haven  ;  and  one  evening,  while 
in  conversation  with  him  and  Mrs.  Davenport,  he  was  led  to  relate  the 
circumstances  connected  with  the  trial  and  execution  of  the  witch  Knapp 
at  Fairfield,  and  her  vindictive  effort,  even  in  her  last  moments,  to  fasten 
upon  Mrs.  Thomas  Staples  the  stigma  of  being  a  witch.  He  also  spoke 
of  the  course  pursued  by  Mrs.  Staples  before  the  execution  and  afterwards 
in  examining  the  body  of  good-wife  Knapp  for  the  marks  of  a  witch,  de- 
claring before  several  women  standing  by,  "  that  if  the  marks  upon  the 
body  were  those  of  a  witch  she  was  one  herself,  for  she  had  the  same 
marks."  He  requested  that  what  he  had  related  might  be  regarded  as 
confidential,  as  he  did  not  wish  the  story  to  be  circulated  from  him  ;  that 
others  who  had  overheard  the  declaration  of  the  witch,  either  had  or  would 

*  Record  of  Roger  Ludlow's  grant  of  home-lot,  etc.,  from  the  Town,  4  Feb.,  1653.  A,  Town 
Deeds,  p.  86. — Sale  to  Alexander  Bryant,  10  May,  1654.  A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  57. — Sale  to  Nathan 
Gold,  I.,  ii  May,  1654.  A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  52.— Willed  to  Nathan  Gold,  II.,  March  i.  1693, 
Prob.  Rec.,  Vol.  1689-1701. — Willed  to  Nathan  Gold,  III.,  April  29,  1724,  Prob.  Rec.,  Vol.  1716- 
1735. — Willed  to  grandson  Jabez  Hubbell,  legal  representative  of  Martha  Gold  Hubbcll,  Sept.  28, 
1761,  Prob.  Rec.,  Vol.  1754-1764. — Willed  by  Jabez  Hubbell  to  his  son  James  and  his  wife  Roda, 
Jan.  3,  1798,  Prob.  Rec..  Vol.  1799-1818.  Jabez  Hubbell  died  in  1817.  His  son  James  died  at 
Hartford,  1810.  The  heirs  of  Jabez  Hubbell  and  Roda,  his  wife,  namely,  Emily  Bulkley,  David 
Mallory,  Jabez  A.  West,  Hannah  West,  Caroline  Gilbert,  Simon  H.  Mallory,  George,  Elizabeth, 
and  Jeremiah  Mallory,  on  the  2  April,  1835,  had  this  homestead  distributed  to  them.  Prob.  Rec., 
Vol.  1827-1835,  p.  695.— The  Hubbell  heirs  sold  it  to  Obediah  Jones  in  1835.  Town  Deeds,  Vol. 
44,  pages  546,  458,  700,  297,  etc. — O.  W.Jones  sold  it  to  John  Thompson,  Town  Records,  Vol.  47. 
John  Thompson  re-sold  it  to  O.  W.  Jones,  22  Feb.,  1850.  Vol.  48,  p.  512—0.  W.  Jones  deeded 
it  to  Sarah  J.  Haines,  March,  1851.  Town  Deeds,  Vol.  49. — Charles  N.  Butt  and  Sarah  J.  Butt, 
J.  H.  Knox  and  Augusta  Knox,  the  heirs  of  Sarah  J.  Haines,  deeded  il  to  Elizabeth  A.  Talbot, 
May  7,  1853.  Town  Deeds,  Vol.  50,  pp.  724-725. — George  A.  Talbot  and  the  heirs  of  Elizabeth 
A.  Talbot  deeded  it  to  Oliver  O.  Jennings,  29  April,  1880,  Vol.  61,  pp.  729,  730. 


88  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1654 

soon  spread  it  abroad.  Soon  after  Thomas  Staples  instituted  a  suit 
against  Mr.  Ludlow  for  defaming  his  wife's  character  ;  to  which  he  gave  no 
attention,  except  to  leave  an  overwhelming  amount  of  evidence  in  the 
hands  of  his  attorney,  Alexander  Bryan  of  Milford,  which  clearly  proved 
that  he  was  not  responsible  for  what  the  witch  Knapp  and  Mrs.  Staples 
herself  had  declared  to  be  true.  Mrs.  Staples  was  evidently  one  of  those 
sharp,  shrewd  women,  who  are  not  to  be  silenced  in  their  professed  opinions 
by  any  one.  Her  outspoken  opinion  against  one  of  the  principal  laws  of 
the  colony,  was  enough  of  itself  in  those  days  to  condemn  her  as  a  witch. 
She  had  also  had  a  quarrel  with  Ludlow,  who  had  charged  her  with  telling 
falsehoods,  or  in  plainer  words,  of  telling  a  series  of  lies.  People  used 
plain,  ungarriished  language  in  those  days,  and  a  lie  was  a  lie,  white  or 
black.  Altogether,  Mrs.  Staples  felt  herself  to  be  an  exceedingly  conspic- 
uous person  at  that  time,  and  consequently  made  herself  such.  She  had 
no  idea  of  being  made  either  to  suffer  punishment  as  a  witch  or  to  believe 
in  witchcraft.  In  the  estimation  of  the  public,  particularly  among  the  best 
people  of  the  town,  there  was  an  uneasy  suspicion  that  perhaps  she  was  a 
witch.  Therefore,  in  order  to  clear  her  from  the  charge,  and  the  danger 
of  being  hanged,  her  husband  resolved  to  make  a  scape-goat  of  Ludlow, 
by  bringing  an  action  of  slander  against  him,  thereby  making  him  suffer 
for  the  witch  Knapp's  accusation  and  of  public  opinion,  as  well  as  for 
charging  his  wife  in  the  meeting-house  with  having  "gone  on  in  a  tract  of 
lying."  The  suit  took  place  in  New  Haven  on  the  2Qth  of  May,  1654,  a 
month  after  Ludlow  left  for  Virginia,  and,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter,  he 
was  fined  several  pounds  and  costs  of  the  court. 

For  the  first  time  in  almost  twenty  years  the  name  of  Roger  Ludlow 
disappears  from  the  list  of  magistrates,  chosen  at  the  General  Court  of 
election  held  on  the  i8th  of  May.  Andrew  Ward  and  William  Hill  were 
again  elected  deputies  from  Fairfield.  George  Hull  and  Alexander 
Knowles  were  chosen  assistants  to  the  magistrates  sent  by  the  General 
Court  to  execute  justice  in  the  sea-side  towns  ;  "to  marry  persons  ;  &  to 
press  horses  for  the  public  welfare."  The  assistants  at  Fairfield  and  the 
adjacent  towns,  were  given  liberty  to  examine  the  causes  of  disquietude 
among  them  ;  and  either  to  send  the  delinquents  to  Hartford  for  trial,  or 
to  send  for  some  of  the  magistrates  of  the  General  Court  to  hold  a  court 
in  their  respective  towns.  Mr.  Wells,  Mr.  Webster,  and  Mr.  Clark  were 
appointed  to  carry  out  this  order  if  necessity  required.  An  amendment  to 
the  constitution  was  made,  by  which,  in  the  absence  of  the  governor  and 
deputy-governor,  the  major  part  of  the  magistrates  were  given  power  to 
assemble  a  court,  and  choose  a  moderator  from  among  themselves,  which 


1654]  WARS   AND   RUMORS   OF   WARS  89 

court  should  be  deemed  a  court  "  as  legal  to  all  intents  &  purposes  "  as 
if  the  governor  and  deputy-governor  were  present. 

Early  in  June  Major  Sedgwick  and  Captain  Leveret  arrived  at  Boston 
with  a  fleet  of  three  or  four  ships,  and  a  land  force,  bringing  with  them  a 
commission  from  Cromwell  to  unite  the  four  New  England  colonies  in  a 
war  against  the  Dutch.  They  called  for  an  immediate  meeting  of  the 
commissioners,  to  consult  with  them  about  the  designed  expedition. 
Connecticut  responded  by  sending  Major  John  Mason  and  Mr.  Cullick, 
with  "instructions  to  engage  any  number  of  men,  not  exceeding  two 
hundred;  but  rather  than  the  expedition  should  fail,  four  or  five  hundred." 
This  help  would  be  granted,  even  in  case  Massachusetts  should  refuse  to 
join  with  them.  New  Haven  sent  her  commissioners,  with  instructions 
to  engage  all  the  men  and  provisions  they  could  spare,  "&  to  pledge 
assistants  though  no  other  except  Connecticut  should  join  with  them." 
The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  did  not  agree  to  raise  men  them- 
selves, but  granted  Major  Sedgwick  and  Captain  Leveret  liberty  to  raise 
five  hundred  men.  This  number  was  reduced  to  three  hundred  by  the 
commissioners,  who  also  agreed  that  Connecticut  should  furnish  two 
hundred,  and  New  Haven  one  hundred  and  thirty-three,  to  join  with  two 
hundred  from  the  ships,  making  in  all  a  force  of  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  men.  Active  measures  were  at  once  set  on  foot  towards  making  an 
immediate  attack  upon  the  Dutch. 

Fairfield  and  the  towns  adjacent  were  all  bustle  and  activity  with 
preparations  for  both  an  offensive  and  defensive  war.  In  the  mean  time 
the  Dutch  had  used  all  possible  influence  to  induce  Governor  Stuyvesant  to 
make  peace  with  the  English.  They  even  called  a  meeting  of  delegates 
from  their  towns,  who  refused  to  be  compelled  to  pay  taxes  "  to  provide 
against  their  own  ruin  &  destruction,"  and,  "  therefore,"  they  said,  "  we 
will  not  pay  any  more  taxes."  The  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  English 
ships,  and  of  an  immediate  attack  within  their  own  borders,  caused  a  state 
of  great  consternation.  Old  men,  women  and  children,  with  goods  and 
valuables,  were  removed  to  safer  quarters.  Governor  Stuyvesant  was 
urged  by  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  New  Amsterdam  "  to  surrender 
the  city  without  bloodshed  ;  "  but  the  sturdy  old  governor  disdained  the 
idea,  and  vented  his  wrath  upon  all  such  intruders.  In  the  midst  of  the 
great  excitement  which  prevailed,  news  that  peace  had  been  declared 
between  England  and  Holland  was  wafted  across  the  Atlantic.  This  was 
glad  news  to  the  English  colonists,  who  were  saved  from  a  most  unhappy 
war  ;  and  especially  to  the  Dutch  settlers,  who  manifested  their  great  joy 
in  public  and  social  festivities,  by  ringing  of  bells  and  booming  of  cannons. 


9O  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1654 

Governor  Stuyvesant  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  throughout 
the  Dutch  domains  in  America.  In  his  proclamation  he  thus  expressed 
his  gratitude :  "  Praise  the  Lord  O  England's  Jerusalem  ;  &  Nether- 
land's  Sion.  Praise  the  Lord!  He  both  secured  your  gates,  &  blessed 
your  possessions  with  peace,  even  here,  where  the  threatened  torch  of  war 
was  lighted  ;  where  waves  reached  our  lips,  &  subsided  only  through  the 
power  of  the  Almighty."  * 

The  commander-in-chief  of  the  English  fleet,  no  doubt  by  orders  from 
Cromwell,  at  once  turned  his  attention  towards  dispossessing  the  French 
along  the  coast  between  Penobscot  and  St.  John.  Meanwhile  trouble  had 
arisen  between  Ninigret  and  the  Mohegans  and  the  Long  Island  Indians. 
Ninigret  had  hired  the  Mohawks,  Pocomstocks  and  Wampanoags,  after- 
wards called  Philip's  Indians,  to  destroy  both  the  Mohegans  and  the  Long 
Island  Indians.  Overshadowed  with  the  dread  of  annihilation,  the  Long 
Island  Indians,  who  had  suffered  greatly  at  the  hands  of  Ninigret, 
placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  Connecticut.  This  combina- 
tion of  the  Indians  was  a  serious  cause  of  danger  to  the  peace  of  the 
English  settlements.  The  course  pursued  by  Massachusetts  in  breaking 
the  articles  of  confederation,  resulted  in  so  much  feeling  in  the  other  colo- 
nies, that  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  was  not  expected  to  take  place 
in  the  fall.  Massachusetts  represented  that  the  articles  of  agreement 
needed  amendment,  and  proposed  a  meeting  for  that  purpose,  which  was 
declined  by  the  other  colonies,  on  the  ground  that  the  articles  were 
perfectly  clear  and  explicit,  and  therefore  needed  no  amendment.  When 
it  was  discovered,  however,  that  Ninigret  had  excited  a  general  war  among 
the  Indian  tribes  in  New  England,  Massachusetts  expressed  a  willingness 
to  renew  her  covenant  with  the  other  colonies,  acceding  to  the  original 
articles  of  combination,  and  sent  commissioners  to  attend  their  annual 
meeting  in  September,  f 

The  commissioners  met  this  year  at  Hartford  and  resolved  upon  a  war 
with  Ninigret.  Forty  horsemen  and  two  hundred  footmen  were  ordered 
to  be  immediately  equipped  for  the  several  colonies.  A  part  of  this  force 
was  to  be  dispatched  without  delay  to  the  Niantic  country,  and  the 
remainder  were  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  march  upon  notice.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  on  the  3d  of  October,  it  was 
ordered,  that  the  division  of  men  to  be  pressed  out  of  each  town,  to  go 
upon  the  expedition  to  Narragansett.  should  be  carried  out  according  to 
the  conclusion  of  the  commissioners.  Forty-five  men  were  to  be  chosen 

*  Bryant's  Hist.  United  States,  II.,  149. 
f  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.  I.,  228-230. 


1654]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  91 

out  of  the  towns,  six  of  whom  were  to  be  drafted  from  Fairfield.  The  first 
company  was  to  consist  of  twenty-four,  and  the  second  of  twenty-one  men. 
Committees  from  each  town  were  chosen  to  impress  men  into  the  service 
of  the  expedition.  Andrew  Ward  and  Alexander  Knowles  were  appointed 
a  committee  for  Fairfield.  The  New  Haven  colony  agreed  to  send  thirty- 
one  men  to  join  the  Connecticut  forces  ;  and  Lieutenant  Robert  Seely,  with 
a  detachment  of  men,  supplies  and  ammunition,  was  ordered  to  join  Major 
Mason  at  Saybrook.  Massachusetts  was  to  raise  forty  horsemen  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  footmen.  The  companies  were  ordered  to  be  upon 
the  march  by  the  following  Wednesday  to  join  the  Massachusetts  forces 
"on  the  I3th  at  Thomas  Stanton's." 

A  special  effort  was  made  this  year  to  convert  the  Indians,  as  well  as 
to  prevent  the  growing  evil  of  intemperance  among  them.  In  order  to  be 
provided  with  a  suitable  interpreter,  the  General  Court  invited  Thomas 
Minor,  of  Pequot,  to  send  his  son,  John  Minor,  to  Hartford,  where  the 
court  would  provide  for  his  maintenance  and  schooling,  to  the  end  that 
he  might  act  as  an  interpreter  to  the  ministers  and  judges  in  the  several 
towns.  The  names  of  John  Minor  and  John  Sherwood  are  to  be  found 
attached  to  the  Indian  deeds  of  Fairfield,  as  interpreters  between  the 
townsmen  and  the  Indians  in  the  final  purchase  of  Indian  lands.  A  day 
of  public  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed  throughout  the  jurisdiction  of 
Connecticut  "  to  seek  the  presence  &  blessing  of  the  Lord  "  upon  the 
expedition  to  the  Nehantics. 

Major  Mason  was  granted  power  to  call  the  train  bands  together  from 
the  several  towns  once  in  two  years,  as  a  general  training-day,  on  the  first  or 
second  week  in  September.  At  a  General  Court  held  at  Hartford  on  the 
I4th  of  September,  the  returns  of  taxable  persons  and  property  at  Fairfield 
were  as  follows  :  Persons,  74;  estates,  ,£8,634.  A  day  was  appointed  to  be 
set  apart  about  the  1st  of  November  as  a  general  thanksgiving.  The  mes- 
sengers dispatched  by  the  commissioners  to  Ninigret  demanding  his  pres- 
ence at  Hartford,  and  that  he  should  bring  with  him  the  tribute  he  had 
pledged  to  the  Pequots  under  his  protection,  returned  without  having  re- 
ceived any  satisfaction  whatever  from  him.  Ninigret  refused  to  go  or  send 
to  Hartford,  or  to  make  peace  with  Uncas  and  the  Long  Island  Indians. 
He  said  he  did  not  owe  the  Pequots  any  tribute,  and  desired  "  that  the 
English  should  let  him  alone,"  and  allow  him  to  fight  out  his  own  quarrel 
with  the  Long  Island  Indians,  with  which  he  did  not  see  that  the  commis- 
sioners had  anything  whatever  to  do.  Upon  receiving  this  answer,  the  com- 
missioners ordered  the  troops  to  march  without  delay  into  the  Nehantic 
country,  and  oblige  Ninigret  and  his  allies  to  accept  terms  of  peace.  They 


Q2  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1655 

nominated  Major  Gibson,  Major  Denison  and  Captain  Atherton  to  the 
chief  command,  leaving  it  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to 
appoint  which  of  the  three  should  be  most  acceptable  to  them.  They 
declined  all  three,  and  appointed  Major  Willard  to  that  office. 

The  forces  were  immediately  placed  under  Willard's  command,  and 
proceeded  directly  to  Ninigret's  quarters;  but  found  that  he  and  his  men 
had  fled  into  a  swamp  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  miles  distant,  leaving 
their  wigwams  and  corn  without  protection.  Major  Willard  did  not  make 
an  attempt  to  pursue  him,  or  to  molest  his  quarters.  The  Pequots,  num- 
bering about  one  hundred,  followed  his  troops  back  to  Hartford,  and 
placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  English.  The  commis- 
sioners were  greatly  disappointed  and  displeased  with  the  inactivity  of 
Major  Willard,  who,  they  said,  had  lost  a  golden  opportunity  to  humble 
the  pride  of  Ninigret.  He  gave  very  unsatisfactory  reasons  for  his  course, 
but  it  was  apparent  that  Massachusetts,  being  desirous  of  avoiding  an  open 
war,  had  secretly  instructed  him  not  to  provoke  hostilities. 

After  Major  Willard  returned  to  Hartford,  Ninigret  became  more 
haughty  than  ever.  He  pursued  his  resentment  against  Uncas  and  the 
Long  Island  Indians  ;  and  both  the  English  and  Indians  on  the  Island 
were  in  constant  fear  of  a  general  massacre.  In  their  dilemma  an  appeal 
for  assistance  was  made  to  the  commissioners,  who  ordered  that  a  vessel 
should  cruise  between  Neanticut  and  Long  Island  to  watch  Ninigret. 
Captain  John  Youngs  was  appointed  to  command  the  vessel,  and  to  call 
for  as  many  men  as  he  required  from  the  fort  at  Say  brook.  He  was 
instructed  that  in  case  Ninigret  attempted  to  cross  the  Sound,  to  seize  and 
stave  his  canoes,  and  to  destroy  his  men  in  their  design.  Supplies  of 
ammunition  were  sent  to  the  Montauket  sachem  to  be  used  only  to  defend 
himself  against  Ninigret.  South  and  East  Hampton,  with  the  towns 
adjacent,  were  provided  with  ammunition  and  provisions  by  Connecticut 
and  New  Haven.  Massachusetts  remained  neutral,  leaving  Connecticut 
and  New  Haven  to  protect  their  own  interests.  At  the  May  election 
Andrew  Ward  and  William  Hill  were  chosen  deputies  to  the  General 
Court  from  Fairfield.  "  Governor  Thomas  Wells,  Deputy  Governor  John 
Webster  &  Mr.  Clark  were  desired  to  go  down  to  the  sea-side  to  keep 
court  at  Fairfield  or  Stamford." 

The  town  of  Norwalk  was  granted  all  the  lands  which  it  had  purchased 
of  the  Indians,  "not  of  right  belonging  to  the  plantation  of  Fairfield." 
Between  the  intervals  of  the  General  Courts,  the  magistrates  were  given 
authority  to  appoint  a  public  day  of  fasting  and  thanksgiving  as  they 
judged  meet.  It  was  ordered,  with  the  approbation  of  the  deputies  from 


1656]  WARS.  AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  93 

the  sea-side,  viz. :  Fairfield,  Stratford  and  Norwalk,  that  the  expense  of 
the  courts,  except  in  cases  of  a  breach  of  the  capital  laws,  should  be  borne 
by  the  towns  in  which  the  courts  were  held  ;  and  in  cases  of  capital  offenses, 
one  half  was  to  be  paid  by  the  towns  and  the  other  half  by  the  colony. 
An  amicable  meeting  of  the  commissioners  took  place  in  September  at 
Plymouth.  At  a  General  Court  held  at  Hartford  on  the  4th  of  October, 
"  The  Commissioners  of  Stratford  &  Fairfield  were  fined  40'  a  piece,  for 
neglecting  an  order  to  meet  &  perfect  the  list  of  freeholders  &  the  value  of 
their  property."  Other  towns  were  fined  in  like  manner.  The  last 
Wednesday  in  October  was  appointed  "to  be  solemnly  observed  as  a  day 
of  public  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord  (for  renewed  mercies)  by  all  the  planta- 
tions in  Connecticut."  A  tax  of  a  penny  on  a  pound  was  ordered  to  be 
levied  in  all  the  plantations,  to  defray  the  debts  of  the  colony;  to  be  paid, 
three-fourths  in  wheat  and  peas,  and  one-fourth  in  Indian  corn  or  meal. 

In  the  month  of  April  there  assembled  at  Fairfield,  all  the  chief 
sachems  of  the  Indians  living  in  the  town  and  its  vicinity.  Although  they 
had  made  sale  of  their  lands  to  the  town  through  Roger  Ludlow  in  1639 
and  1640,  they  could  not  fully  realize  that  they  had  no  further  claim  to  the 
use  of  these  lands,  save  the  reservations  set  apart  to  them  ;  consequently 
from  time  to  time  they  had  laid  claim  to  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
town.  In  imagination,  a  picture  of  the  sachems  of  Pequonnock  and  Un- 
coway  may  be  drawn,  dressed  in  their  wild  costumes  with  feathers  and 
beads,  and  an  occasional  one  clad  in  an  Englisman's  coat  or  small-clothes, 
assembled  with  the  magistrates  and  leading  planters  of  Fairfield,  under 
the  grand  old  oak  at  Pequonnock,  which  stood  until  1884  as  a  relic  of  the 
past,  in  defiance  of  time  and  the  storms  of  more  than  two  centuries. 
Under  this  tree,  tradition  states,  that  the  red  sons  of  the  forest  gathered 
to  deed  by  twig  and  turf  their  first  sale  of  lands  to  the  English.  And  here 
perhaps  they  again  assembled,  or  it  may  have  been  on  the  Meeting-house 
Green,  on  the  2Oth  of  March,  to  renew  the  sale  of  their  lands  to  the 
English.  After  debating  the  limits  of  their  reservations,  and  the  bounds  of 
the  English  lands,  and  again  in  return  receiving  supplies  of  English  cloth, 
pots,  kettles,  looking-glasses,  scissors,  knives,  hatchets,  hoes  and  spades, 
they  affixed  their  quaint  signatures  to  the  following  deed. 

DEED   OF    PEONONNOCK   &    UNCOWAY. 

Whereas  there  have  been  several  Indians  who  have  made  claime  to  much  of  ye  land 
yt  ye  Town  of  Fairfield  have  &  doe  possess,  ye  Town  of  Fairfield  having  token  ye  matter 
into  consideration,  ordered  &  appointed  Alexandre  Knowles,  Henry  Jackson,  Francis 
Purdy,  with  several  others,  should  treat  with  Poquanuck  Indians  concerning,  &  upon 
ye  treaty  with  those  Indians,  whose  names  are  underwritten  in  ye  behalf  of  all  ye  Poquan- 


94  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1656 

uck  Indians,  they  have  agreed  as  followeth  :  First,  they  owne  ye  land  yl  ye  Town  is 
built  upon,  from  ye  Creeke  yt  ye  Tide-mill  of  Fairfield,  South  Westward  is  called  Sasqua 
which  they  owne,  have  been  purchased  from  ye  Indians,  &  is  now  ye  Englishe's  Land  : 
Secondly,  ye  sd.  Indians  have  acknowledged,  consented  to  &  granted  yt  all  that  tract  of 
land  which  they  call  Unceway  (which  is  from  the  above  sd.  Creek  Eastward  unto  ye  bounds 
between  Fairfield  &  Stratford)  from  ye  sea,  to  run  into  ye  Country  seven  or  eight  Miles  : 
for  ye  future  it  shall  bee  ye  land  &  propriety  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  Town  of  Fairfield  : 
Giveing  &  granting  to  ye  sd.  Town  of  Fairfield  all  ye  above  sd.  tract  of  Land  called  Unce- 
way with  all  ye  Creekes,  Rivers,  Ponds,  Woods  £  privileges  thereto  belonging  or  apper- 
taining to  bee  to  ye  sd.  Fairfield,  ye  Inhabitants  thereof  &  to  their  heirs  forever,  quietly 
to  enjoy  &  possesse  it  :  &  they  doe  promise  &  engage  yt  neither  they  nor  their  heirs, 
nor  any  other  Indians  shall  for  ye  future  molest  or  trouble  ye  sd.  English  in  ye  quiet  pos- 
session of  ye  sd.  land:  Only  it  is  to  bee  noted  ytyefeild  which  ye  Indians  now  possesse, 
called  ye  Indian  feild,  which  is  a  small  neck  of  land  or  ye  other  side  of  ye  Creek,  is 
exceptecl,  ye  Indians  still  keeping  their  propriety  in  that  small  neck  or  feild  :  ye  Indians  are 
to  have  ye  priviledge  of  killing  deer  within  ye  above  sd.  tract  of  land  :  only  they  are  not  to 
set  any  traps  within  ye  sd.  tract  of  land  :  In  witness  of  all  which  ye  sd.  Indians  have  here- 
unto set  to  their  hands  this  2oth  March,  1656. 

Whereas  ye  above  sd.  Land  is  granted  to  ye  town  of  Fairfield  by  ye  sd.  Indians,  we 
also  manifest  or  respects  unto  them,  yt  wee  doe  engage  upon  sufficient  warning,  to  cart 
them  their  stuffe  for  them  to  erect  &  build  a  fort,  &  upon  this  consideration  ye  sd. 
Indians  have  acknowledged  ye  above  grant. 

Umpeter  Nosset,  X  his  mark. 
Nimrod,  or  Pocunnoe,  X  his  mark. 
Matamuck,  X  his  mark. 
Authonyes,  alias  Lotashau,  X  his  mark. 
Washau,  X  his  mark. 
Signed  &  delivered  in  presence  &  witnesses  of  us, 

Alexander  Knowles.  Nathan  Gold. 

Thomas  Pell.  George  Hull. 

Henry  Jackson. 

This  is  a  true  copy  according  to  the  original,  compared  by  me  &  recorded  this 
25.  February,  1685. 

NATHAN  GOLD,  Recorder.* 

This  deed  embraced  all  the  lands  lying  west  of  the  Stratford  bounds, 
near  the  Pequonnock  river,  to  the  Sasco  river,  which  runs  between  the 
Sasqua  or  Sasco  fields  and  Frost  point  ;  and  north  seven  or  eight  miles 
into  the  country.  At  the  May  election  Andrew  Ward  and  George  Hull 
were  chosen  deputies  to  the  General  Court  ;  Ensign  Nathan  Gold  was 

*  Book  A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  437. 

It  has  been  thought  by  some  that  Old  Fort  was  situated  on  or  near  the  Pequonnock  River  ;  but 
as  that  part  of  Pequonnock  belonged  to  Stratford,  the  above  deed  of  the  purchase  of  that  part  of 
Pequonnock  west  of  Mutton  lane  and  Golden-hill,  with  the  testimony  of  William  Wheeler's 
journal,  who  received  his  information  from  his  grandfather,  locates  this  fort  on  the  creek  running 
out  of  Black  Rock  harbor. 


1656]  WARS    AND    RUMORS   OF   WARS  95 

appointed  by  the  General  Court  to  be  an  assistant  of  the  particular  court 
for  the  town  of  Fairfreid.  The  assistants  and  clerks  of  the  train  bands  of 
Fairfield  and  the  neighboring  towns  were  given  authority  "  to  examine  & 
censure  all  defects  of  arms  ;  "  "  upon  training  days,  both  in  coming  late  or 
otherwise,  &  to  excuse  or  punish  for  the  same."  The  Indians  throughout 
Connecticut  gave  a  great  deal  of  trouble  this  year.  Uncas,  while  a  firm 
friend  to  the  English,  was  mischievous,  and  with  his  natural  savage  love  of 
war,  had  haughtily  made  attacks  upon  the  tribes  in  his  vicinity.  Me  chal- 
lenged the  Narragansetts  to  fight  with  him,  and  finally  joined  with  Ninigret 
and  his  allies.  He  so  endangered  his  life  by  these  rash  acts,  that  the  General 
Court  was  obliged  to  send  a  force  to  protect  him  from  the  fury  of  the 
Narragansetts.  In  retaliation  the  Narragansetts  plundered  the  houses  of 
the  English. 

The  commissioners  with  great  trouble  managed  to  keep  the  peace,  by 
obliging  Uncas  to  make  restitution  to  the  Indians  he  had  wronged,  for  his 
haughty  and  unwarranted  behavior,  prohibiting  him  from  making  war 
without  their  consent.  Major  Mason  was  sent  with  a  detachment  of 
troops  to  Long  Island  to  establish  peace  between  the  Indians  and  the 
English.  Fairfield  and  the  towns  adjacent  were  constantly  alarmed  by 
the  piratical  excursions  both  of  the  white  and  Indian  marauders.  To 
encourage  digging  pits  into  which  the  prowling  wolves  might  fall  unawares 
at  night,  in  October  "  a  law  was  enacted  "  by  the  General  Court  that  if 
either  an  Englishman  or  Indian  should  molest  or  take  wolves  from  one  of 
these  pits,  whereby  they  would  defraud  any  lawful  owner  of  the  pits  of  a 
reward  from  the  town  in  which  he  lived,  they  should  "  pay  to  the  owner  of 
the  pit  IO3,  or  be  whipped  on  their  naked  bodies,  not  exceeding  six  stripes." 
A  famous  place  for  making  these  pits  was  at  Pequonnock,  on  a  neck  of 
land  lying  south-east  of  Golden-hill,  near  Greenlea  or  Seaside  park,  which 
received  the  name  of  "  Wolves  pit  plain"  The  court  ordered  that  each 
town  should  carefully  place  upon  record  for  the  benefit  of  their  posterity, 
"  the  most  memorable  passages  of  God's  providence  in  settling  and  hitherto 
continuing  his  people  in  this  country."  Committees  for  this  purpose  were 
appointed  for  the  river  towns.  Thomas  Pell  and  Andrew  Ward  were 
appointed  for  Fairfield  and  the  seaside. 

The  commissioners  met  this  year  at  Plymouth.  A  letter  was  read  from 
Governor  Stuyvesant,  informing  them  of  his  joy  at  the  happy  peace  estab- 
lished between  the  Dutch  and  English  "  in  these  remote  parts  of  the  earth." 
After  expressing  a  warm  desire  for  a  nearer  alliance  between  the  t\vo 
nations,  he  concluded  his  epistle  by  stating  "that  he  had  received  a  ratifi- 
cation of  the  agreement  made  at  Hartford  in  1650,  under  the  seal  of  the 


96  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1657 

High  &  Mighty  States  of  the  United  Belgick  provinces;  &  desired  that 
time  &  place  might  be  appointed  for  delivering  &  interchanging  the 
ratifications."  The  commissioners  returned  no  very  favorable  reply  to 
the  Dutch  governor,  nor  did  they  express  any  great  desire  for  a  nearer 
alliance.  A  list  of  the  persons  and  estates  in  the  colony  was  presented  to 
this  court.  The  number  of  freeholders  at  Fairfield  is  left  a  blank,  but  the 
sum  total  of  the  value  of  the  estates  was  £10,553,  45.  The  freemen  of 
the  town  at  this  time  numbered  about  one  hundred.  A  tax  of  three 
farthings  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  the  towns,  to  be  paid  by  virtue  of 
the  treasurer's  warrants  to  the  constable,  half  in  wheat  and  half  in  peas. 
A  day  of  general  thanksgiving  "  for  the  occurrences  of  many  mercies  the 
year  past,"  was  appointed  in  the  latter  part  of  October. 

At  a  General  Court  held  on  the  26th  of  February,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  join  with  the  magistrates  "to  give  the  best  &  safest  advice 
to  the  Indians." 

A  tax  of  a  penny  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  the  towns  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  colony.  The  court  required  that  all  who  desired  to  be 
made  freemen  should  receive  a  certificate  signed  by  the  major  part  of  the 
deputies  in  each  town  "  of  their  peaceable  &  honest  conversation."  Only 
those  whom  the  General  Court  approved  were  to  be  made  free. 

The  subject  of  games  was  brought  before  the  court  at  this  time. 
"  Cards,  dice,  tables  or  any  other  games,  wherein  that  grate  &  solemn 
ordinance  of  a  Lott  "  (lottery)  were  forbidden,  under  a  penalty  of  2CW. 
apiece  for  every  such  offense.  Every  head  of  a  family  who  indulged  in  or 
allowed  such  games  in  his  house,  was  fined  2os.  a  game  ;  one  third  part  to 
be  paid  to  the  informer,  and  the  remainder  to  the  public  treasury.  Lotteries 
were  frequently  resorted  to  in  colonial  days,  especially  in  the  divisions  of 
lands  and  sales  of  lands  for  public  and  benevolent  purposes.  But,  "games 
of  money  or  estate  by  games,  be  the  games  what  they  will,"  were  regarded 
"  a  sinful  violation  of  the  laws  of  honesty  &  industry,  which  God  has  given 
us.  .  .  ."  Public  lotteries  were  approved  when  the  people  \vere  oppressed 
with  taxes  and  debt,  and  were  called  parliamentary  lotteries.  Private  lot- 
teries were  denounced,  being  designed  merely  for  private  ends  and  advan- 
tages, and  therefore  sinful  and  dangerous,  "and  a  cheat  upon  the  public." 

Nathan  Gold  was  nominated  to  be  made  a  magistrate  or  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  General  Court.  Since  Ludlow  left  Fairfield  an  apathy 
had  crept  over  the  town,  such  as  is  experienced  when  a  great  man,  who 
has  been  a  leader  in  a  community,  has  been  removed  ;  and  for  the  first 
few  years  there  appeared  to  be  no  one  to  take  his  place.  Meanwhile 
Nathan  Gold  had  gradually  won  the  confidence  of  the  people.  He  had 


1658]  WARS   AND    RUMORS   OF    WARS  97 

been  the  town  clerk,  a  judge  of  the  sea-side  courts,  had  proved  an  efficient 
captain  in  the  train  band ;  and  had  gradually  become  known  to  the  outside 
public.  From  this  time  he  became  the  leading  spirit  of  the  town.  He  was 
made  an  assistant  of  the  General  Court  at  the  May  election,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  the  militia  of  Fairfield. 

Michael  Try  and  John  Wheeler  were  elected  deputies  from  Fairfield, 
and  Nehemiah  Olmstead  and  Robert  Lockwood  were  made  sergeants  of 
the  town  militia.  A  law  was  passed  that  no  leather  should  be  sold  without 
first  having  been  sealed  or  labeled  in  the  town  where  it  was  tanned,  under 
a  penalty  of  a  jury  trial  and  fine  ;  and,  if  found  defective,  the  sealer  was 
given  power  to  fine  or  seize  it.  Raw  hides  were  not  allowed  to  be  sold 
out  of  the  colony  under  a  forfeiture  of  the  hide.  Goodman  Graves  and 
Goodman  Fairchild  were  appointed  leather  sealers  for  Fairfield.  Authority 
was  given  to  the  assistants  either  at  Fairfield,  Stratford,  or  Norwalk,  to 
extend  the  limits  of  those  towns.  The  value  of  the  estates  given  into  the 
court  in  October  from  Fairfield,  amounted  to  ;£i  1,410,  is. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies 
in  September,  messengers  were  dispatched  to  the  Narragansetts,  Nehan- 
tics,  and  Mohegans,  to  inform  them  that  if  they  would  desist  from  fighting 
against  each  other  and  in  the  English  plantations,  they  would  settle  their 
quarrel  peaceably  for  them,  and  without  partiality.  They  reminded  them 
of  the  past  league  between  them  and  the  English  ;  and  that  they  had 
agreed  to  bring  before  the  commissioners  their  grievances,  to  be  settled 
without  going  to  war.  In  spite  of  all  that  had  been  done  for  the  Indians 
on  Long  Island,  the  Montaukets  had  turned  their  weapons  of  war  against 
the  English  in  the  settlements  on  the  Island.  Major  Mason  was  sent  with 
a  body  of  men  to  inquire  into  the  trouble  which  had  arisen,  and  to  demand 
satisfaction  of  their  sachem,  according  to  the  articles  of  agreement  he  had 

o  o 

made  with  the  English. 

At  a  General  Court  held  at  Hartford  March  i6th,  the  first  cavalry  force, 
consisting  of  thirty  horsemen,  was  established  in  Connecticut."''  Robert 
Beachem  (Beuchamp),  formerly  of  Norwalk,  was  given  liberty  to  settle  at 
Bankside.  Alexander  Knowles,  of  Fairfield,  was  nominated  to  be  made 
a  magistrate  of  the  General  Court.  At  the  May  election  Alexander 
Knowles  was  made  an  assistant  of  the  General  Court.  John  Wheeler  and 
Cornelius  Hull  were  chosen  deputies.  All  sea-faring  men  were  for  the 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.  I.,  309      The  New  Haven  colony  on   the    ifith  of  May  following  ordered 
that  New   Haven,  Milford,  Stamford,  Guilford,   and   Bran  ford   should   be   provided    with    sixteen 
horses,  and  all  other  necessaries  towards  raising  a  small  troop  for  the  service  of  the  country. — New 
Haven  Col.  Rec.  II.,  173. 
7 


98  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1658 

future  freed  from  training.  The  time  and  place  of  the  general  training  day 
of  the  militia  was,  by  an  order  of  the  court,  left  to  Major  Mason  to  appoint. 
The  three  particular  training  days  usually  held  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  in  the  plantations  before  the  general  training  day,  were  merged  into 
a  grand  nmstcr,  which  was  to  last  two  days.*  Wednesday,  the  8th  of 
September,  was  appointed  a  day  of  solemn  prayer  and  fasting  in  all  the 
towns,  "  to  implore  the  favor  of  God  towards  his  people,  in  regard  of  the 
intemperate  season,  thin  harvest,  sore  visitation  by  sickness  in  several 
plantations;  &  the  sad  prolonged  differences  y*  yet  remain  unreconciled 
in  churches  &  plantations  &  that  God  would  succeed  such  means  as 
are  appointed  to  be  attended  for  the  healing  of  the  foresaid  differences." 

Great  sickness  and  mortality  had  prevailed  during  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer of  this  year  throughout  New  England.  Religious  controversies  ran 
high.  The  Indians  continued  their  war,  which  the  commissioners  failed  in 
their  utmost  endeavors  to  prevent.  "  The  crops  were  light,  &  it  was  a  year 
of  perplexity  &  sorrow."  Upon  the  motion  of  Mr.  Andrew  Ward  in  regard 
to  the  estates  of  deceased  persons,  the  court  appointed  him,  with  William 
Hill  of  Fairficld,  to  assist  Mr.  John  Wells  and  Judge  Camfield  in  proving 
wills,  appointing  administrators,  taking  inventories,  and  distributing  the 
estates  of  persons  who  died  intestate. 

The  valuation  of  the  list  of  estates  at  Fairfield  this  year  amounted  to 
^10,509,  135.  A  rate  of  a  penny  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  all  the  estates 
in  the  colony,  for  public  expenses.  In  case  of  a  sudden  attack  by  the 
Indians  or  other  enemy  upon  any  town  in  the  colony,  the  chief  military 
officers  were  given  authority  to  order  out  the  militia  of  their  own  or 
any  of  the  neighboring  towns,  if  occasion  should  so  require.  The  first 
Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  "a  public  thanksgiving  day  for 
England's  great  victories  &  preservation  ;  &  for  the  mercies  of  God  to  us 
in  our  continued  peace,  &  the  abatement  of  the  sore  sickness  "  in  the  New 
England  plantations. 

The  following  movement  this  year  by  the  General  Court  is  of  interest : 

"The  Court  approves  the  pious  care  of  the  Town  of  Fairfield  in  procuring  help  for  Mr. 
Joanes  by  his  own  consent  thereto,  as  far  as  appears  by  a  paper  presented  by  their 
Deputies  to  this  Court,  to  order,  that  according  to  their  desires  the  foresaid  paper  be  kept 
among  the  Court  papers,  &  desire  the  town  not  anyways  thereupon  to  deprive  their 
Reverend  ancient  Pastor,  Mr.  Joanes,  in  sickness  or  health  of  his  comfortable  maintenance." 

The  army  of  Cromwell  had  conquered  England,  Ireland  and  Scotland. 
The  famous  battle  of  the  Dunes  had  been  fought  on  the  4th  of  June,  before 
Dunkirk,  where  the  Spaniards  were  totally  routed,  and  Dunkirk  given  up  to 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.  I.,  315. 


1659]  WARS  AND   RUMORS   OF  WARS  99 

Cromwell.  On  the  3d  of  September  the  English  army  gained  the  victories 
of  Dunbar  and  Worcester.  On  the  same  day,  which  was  his  birthday,  died 
Oliver  Cromwell  in  the  6oth  year  of  his  age.  He  had  ruled  England  for 
nine  years  under  the  title  of  the  Lord  Protector.  In  his  dying  moments 
he  appointed  his  weak  and  inefficient  son  Richard  to  succeed  him,  who  was 
immediately  declared  the  new  protector. 

The  sale  of  liquor  to  the  Indians  this  year  was  left  to  the  discretion  of 
the  magistrates  of  the  towns.  A  law  was  passed,  that  for  the  future  the 
names  of  persons  to  be  made  free  should  be  presented  to  the  General 
Court,  and  that  none  should  be  made  freemen  until  they  had  attained  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  and  owned  thirty  pounds  of  personal  estate,  or  had 
been  in  office  in  the  colony,  and  were  men  of  an  honest  and  peaceable  con- 
versation. All  such  names  were  to  be  presented  at  the  October  term  of 
court,  "to  prevent  tumult  &  trouble  at  the  General  Election."  Duties 
were  laid  upon  wines  or  liquor  brought  into  the  colony  at  the  rate  of  2Os. 
for  a  butt  of  wine,  and  five  shillings  for  every  anchor  of  liquor.  Custom- 
house officers  were  ordered  to  be  chosen  in  the  several  towns,  to  record 
the  receipt  of  customs.  William  Hill  was  appointed  to  this  duty  at 
Fairfield.  All  private  persons  were  forbidden  to  sell  liquor  under  a  fine. 

Any  person  found  under  the  influence  of  liquor  "in  a  private  house" 
was  fined  2os.  for  every  such  transgression  ;  and  the  owner  of  the  house 
made  subject  to  a  fine  of  los.  The  constables  were  required  to  make  dili- 
gent search  for  all  such  offenders.  Corn  or  malt  was  forbidden  to  be  dis- 
tilled into  liquor.  In  the  month  of  March  the  General  Court  ordered  that 
each  town  in  the  colony  should  provide  its  mills  "  with  a  toll-dish  of  just  a 
quart,  also  a  pottle-dish  of  two  quarts,  a  pint  dish,  and  an  instrument  to 
strike  with,  fit  for  the  purpose,"  all  of  which  should  be  sealed  by  the  sealers 
of  weights  and  measures.  At  the  May  election  Lieutenant  Nathan  Gold 
was  chosen  a  magistrate  to  attend  the  General  Court,  and  Cornelius  Hull 
and  John  Wheeler  deputies.  For  some  time  a  strife  had  existed  between 
Fairfield  and  Stratford  about  the  care  of  the  Pequonnock  Indians.  Strat- 
ford claimed  that  they  belonged  to  Fairfield,  which  Fairfield  resented  on 
the  ground  that  they  were  not, within  the  limits  of  the  town.  A  petition, 
dated  March  7th,  was  carried  to  the  General  Court  for  a  final  settlement  of 
the  dispute  by  the  deputies  from  Fairfield.  They  represented  that  Fair- 
field  was  much  straightened  in  land,  on  account  of  the  Banksicle  farmers 
encroaching  on  their  western  limits;  that  they  were  obliged  to  provide  for 
their  own  Indians,  and  therefore  ought  not  to  have  the  care  of  the  Pequon- 
nock Indians  laid  upon  them  ;  that  the  lands  claimed  by  the  Pequonnock 
Indians  at  Golden-hill  belonged  to  that  tribe,  they  having  reserved  it  to 


100  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1659 

themselves  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlements.  They  represented  that 
there  were  about  four  hundred  Indians  to  be  cared  for.  They  said  that 
Henry  Wakeley  of  Pequonnock  complained  that  Fairfield  oppressed  Strat- 
ford with  their  Indians ;  and  that  Mr.  Ludlow,  in  petitioning  for  the 
largeness  of  the  early  bounds  of  the  town,  "  alleged  that  there  were  many 
Indians  to  provide  for."  They  said  that  Stratford  claimed  the  greatest  part 
of  the  Pequonnock  lands  upon  which  the  Indians  lived.  Finally,  they  left 
the  Indians  to  plead  for  their  rights  themselves. 

It  appears  that  some  of  the  planters  of  Stratford  had  encroached  upon 
the  Golden-hill  reservation,  which  caused  great  dissatisfaction  among  the 
Pequonnock  Indians.  On  account  of  these  encroachments,  they  com- 
plained that  they  had  not  enough  planting  land  to  supply  them  with  corn, 
etc.,  for  their  families.  At  the  same  time  they  refused  to  move  from 
Golden-hill.  The  court  decided  that  Golden-hill  lawfully  belonged  to  the 
Pequonnock  Indians,  and  ordered  "  that  according  unto  the  desire  of  the 
Indians,  that  they  may  quietly  possess  &  enjoy  from  henceforth  &  for  the 
future,  all  that  parcel  of  land  called  Gold-Hill  ;  "  that  a  committee  should 
be  immediately  appointed  to  lay  out  land  for  their  benefit  at  Fairfield  ; 
and  that  the  committee  should  lay  out  as  much  land  in  Fairfield  for  the 
use  and  accommodation  of  the  Stratford  planters  "  as  might  be  most  con- 
venient for  them,  equal  in  quantity  &  quality  to  the  Golden-hill  lands." 
In  case  the  Stratford  men  were  unwilling  to  accept  of  the  lands  set  off  for 
them  in  Fairfield,  the  committee  were  to  decide  "  how  much  &  in  what 
kind  "  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  should  pay  Stratford  by  way  of  satisfac- 
tion. Finally  it  was  concluded  "  that,  the  land  called  Gold  Hill  surren- 
dered by  Stratford  unto  the  Pequonnock  Indians — shall  from  henceforth  be 
accounted  full  satisfaction  for  them  unto  the  Indians;  "  and  that  neither 
they  nor  their  successors  should  make  any  further  claims  or  demands  of 
land  from  Stratford;  but  from  that  time  they  should  be  "accounted 
Fairfield  Indians,"  and  to  be  provided  for  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  town. 
It  was  also  ordered  that  if  the  Pequonnock  Indians  should  at  any  time 
relinquish  or  desert  Gold-hill,  the  land  should  return  to  the  Stratford  plan- 
tation, which  should  pay  back  to  Fairfield  one-half  of  the  sum  they  had 
received  for  the  said  land.  Mathcw  Camfield,  Mr.  Fitch,  Richard  Olm- 
stead  and  Nathaniel  Ely,  of  Norwalk,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
bound  out  eighty  acres  at  Gold-hill,  "  beginning  at  the  foot  of  ye  hill  where 
ye  wigwams  stood,  &  so  to  run  upward  on  the  hill,  &  within  Fairfield 
bounds  as  above  mentioned,  &  to  return  what  they  did  in  the  matter 
to  the  next  General  Court."  The  assistants  or  magistrates  of  the  towns 
were  given  power  to  make  attachments,  levy  rates,  to  grant  replevins,  to 


1659]  WARS   AND   RUMORS   OF   WARS  IOI 

punish  drunkenness,  lying  and  theft  "  within  their  precincts  according  to 
law." 

Magistrates  were  amenable  only  to  the  General  Court  for  any  error 
committed.  The  2gth  of  June  was  appointed  to  be  kept  a  day  of  fasting 
and  prayer  "  partly  for  England  &  partly  for  our  own  Country  in  regard 
to  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in  both  places  ...  &  partly  for  the 
season  ;  .  .  .  that  God  may  prevent  evils  that  may  be  feared,  &  that 
He  would  bless  the  religious  counsels  of  the  colonies,  &  bring  them  to  a 
good  issue."  The  unhappy  state  of  affairs  in  England  at  the  time  of 
Cromwell's  death  had  resulted  in  the  early  withdrawal  of  his  son  from  the 
position  his  father  and  the  army  had  bestowed  upon  him. 

The  New  England  colonies  greatly  feared  that  King  Charles  II.  would 
be  placed  upon  the  throne  of  England.  The  favor  which  they  had  received 
from  Cromwell  both  in  political  and  ecclesiastical  affairs,  relieved  them  for 
the  time  being  from  the  dread  of  a  governor  sent  out  from  England,  or  of 
the  yoke  of  Episcopacy.  Prince  Charles  had  been  acknowledged  king  by 
Scotland  and  Ireland  in  1650;  and  it  was  known  that  there  existed  in 
England,  especially  in  the  army,  a  strong  party  in  his  favor. 

The  Long  Parliament  had  been  summoned,  and  had  been  made  to  give 
way  to  the  old  Rump  Parliament.  Generals  Monk,  Lambert  and  others 
had  been  appointed  to  command  the  army.  Ambition  on  the  part  of  the 
political  and  military  leaders  resulted  in  the  office  of  the  Protector,  the 
Parliament  and  the  army  being  ar/ayed  against  each  other.  Meanwhile 
the  royalists,  taking  advantage  of  the  situation,  resolved  on  a  rise  in  several 
counties.  The  jails  were  filled  by  Parliament  with  their  open  or  secret 
enemies.  "  Throughout  the  three  kingdoms  there  prevailed  nothing  but 
melancholy  fears  ;  among  the  nobility  &  gentry,  of  a  bloody  massacre  & 
extermination  ;  for  the  rest  of  the  people,  a  perpetual  servitude  beneath 
military  despotism  of  the  worst  kind."  It  was  under  these  circumstances 
that  Fairfield  and  the  other  towns  in  Connecticut  were  called  to  spend  a 
day  in  fasting  and  prayer. 

The  list  of  freeholders  and  the  value  of  their  estates  at  Fairfield  this 
year  were  :  persons,  80  ;  estates,  ;£  10,442.  A  tax  of  one  and  a  half  penny 
upon  the  pound  was  levied  upon  the  town  to  defray  the  public  expenses. 
"  In  consideration  of  God's  goodness,"  the  last  day  of  November  was 
appointed  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving  throughout  the  colony,  "  for  ye 
fruitful  &  seasonable  harvest,  &  ye  general  restoration  of  health  to  ye 
plantations." 


CHAPTER    III 

1660 — 1670 

PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Prosperity  of  Fairfield. — Military  laws. — Change  in  the  Constitution  for  the  election  of  governors. 
— Pequonnock  Indians. —  First  cavalry  force  of  Fairfield. — Thanksgiving. — Patent  desired. — 
Affairs  in  England. — Fairfield's  acknowledged  allegiance  to  Charles  II. — Annual  tax. — Sasqua 
lands. — Rate  of  dividend. — Town  officers. — James  Beers. — Freemen. — Indian  deed  of  Sas- 
qua.— Assistants  and  deputies  of  1661. — Norwalk  and  Stratford  bounds. — Schools. — Efforts 
to  obtain  a  charter. — Tax. — Wolves. — Leather  sealers. — Assistants  and  deputies  of  1662. — 
Corn  and  tobacco. — Cavalry  drill. — Fence  committee. — Richard  Ogden's  mill. — The  charter. 
— Stamford. — Captain  John  Youngs. — Salary  of  troopers. — Free  trade. — Burning  fields. — 
Trouble  with  New  Haven. — John  Adams. — Assistants  and  deputies  of  1663. — Particular 
Courts  at  Fairfield. — Boundary. — Watchmen. — Indians  forbidden  to  enter  towns  at  night. — 
New  Haven  and  New  Amsterdam. — Rights  of  town  officers. — Henry  Rowland,  tavern  keeper. 
— Thomas  Pell's  purchase  of  Westchester,  etc. — Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York. — Captain  John 
Scott. — Public  fast. — Fleet  from  England  to  reduce  the  Dutch.  — Surrender  of  the  Dutch. — 
Ecclesiastical  liberties. — Union  with  New  Haven  colony. — War  between  England  and  Hol- 
land.— Pounds. — Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman. — List  of  estates. — Superior  Courts  at  Hartford. — 
The  King  favors  Connecticut. — Bankside  farmers. — Fairfield  county. — Property  taken  for 
debts. — Bears. — Fairfield  to  prepare  troops,  militia  and  vessels  for  the  war. — Peace  between 
England,  France  and  Holland. — Public  thanksgiving.— Strangers  not  to  live  in  Fairfield. — 
Town  notes. — County  prisons. — Grant  of  land  to  Major  Nathan  Gold. — County  troops. — 
Ecclesiastical  assembly  and  committee. — Assistants  and  deputies  of  1669. — Riding  pace. — 
Lawful  measures. 

THE  third  decade  in  the  history  of  Fairfield  opens  with  events  of 
considerable  importance  to  the  town.  Its  growth  within  the  last  ten 
years  had  been  rapid,  both  in  population  and  wealth,  and  it  was  fast 
becoming  the  leading  town  of  the  western  part  of  the  Connecticut  colony. 
It  was  the  center  of  navigation,  and  of  the  county  courts.  Its  exports  of 
grain  and  timber  were  large  ;  and  the  planters  began  to  realize  what  it 
was  to  be  in  easy  circumstances.  The  Indians,  however,  were  proving 
more  mischievous  and  dangerous  than  ever;  their  carriage  was  insolent 
and  defiant ;  but,  since  the  troubles  with  the  Dutch,  the  town  had  kept  a 
well-organized  militia  for  its  defense. 

On  the  assembling  of  the  General  Court  in  February,  a  law  was  passed 
giving  the  military  officers  of  each  town  power  to  call  out  and  appoint  as 
many  of  the  train-bands  annually  as  the  order  of  the  court  required  for 
each  plantation,  to  attend  the  public  meetings,  provided  no  one  person 
was  compelled  to  keep  guard  more  than  one  year.* 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  344 


1660]  PROGRESS   OF  FAIRFIELD  103 

In  April,  the  General  Court  took  into  consideration  the  wisdom  of 
altering  the  fourth  provision  of  the  Constitution,  respecting  the  election  of 
a  governor  for  the  term  of  two  years  only.  They  recommended  for  the 
approval  of  the  freemen  of  the  colony,  that  the  number  of  years  should 
not  be  limited.  They  also  "  ordered  the  secretary  to  insert  the  same  in 
the  warrants  for  the  choice  of  deputies,"  and  requested  that  the  returns 
of  the  freemen  from  remote  plantations  should  be  made  by  proxies 
through  the  deputies  of  the  towns.  Thus  the  long  journeys  to  attend  the 
elections  at  Hartford  were  avoided.  At  the  May  election,  Lieutenant 
Nathan  Gold  was  elected  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  General  Court,  and 
John  Wheeler  and  Cornelius  Hull  were  chosen  deputies  from  Fairfieid. 
Immediately  after  the  election  the  change  submitted  to  the  freemen  was 
made.  It  was  voted  "  that  the  particular  in  ye  4th  law  respecting  the 
choice  of  the  governor  should  be  altered,  &  that  for  the  future  there 
shall  be  liberty  of  a  free  choice  yearly,  either  of  the  same  person  or 
another,  as  may  be  thought  meet,  without  prejudice  to  ye  law  or  breach 
thereof."* 

The  committee  appointed  to  set  off  eighty  acres  on  Golden-hill  to  the 
Pequonnock  Indians,  made  a  report  to  the  court,  that  they  had  settled 
the  bounds  of  the  reservation  according  to  their  instructions  ;  and  included 
the  reservation  within  the  limits  of  Fairfieid  ;  and  also  that  Fairfieid  had 
paid  twenty  pounds  to  Stratford  for  the  said  land.  A  law  was  passed 
"  that  neither  an  Indian  nor  a  negro  servant  should  be  required  to  train, 
watch  or  ward  in  the  colony."  The  price  of  sheep  in  the  list  of  rates  was 
ordered  to  be  reckoned  at  1 5.9.  per  head.  Jehu  Burr  was  appointed  a  grand 
juror,  to  inquire  into  the  misdemeanor  and  breaches  of  the  laws  at  Fair- 
field.  A  law  was  passed  that  no  Indian  should  be  allowed  to  dwell  within 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  any  town  in  the  colony  ;  nor  any  strange  Indian  be 
entertained  in  any  one  of  the  towns,  under  a  penalty  of  4<os.  a  month. 
Guns  carried  into  the  towns  by  Indians  were  liable  to  be  seized  and  not 
redeemed  under  a  penalty  of  IDS.  No  Indian  was  allowed  to  dwell  in  the 
towns  "  except  he  was  known  to  be  of  an  honest  conversation,  &  accepted 
by  a  major  part  of  the  town  ;"  nor  were  they  allowed  to  sell  their  lands  or 
houses  without  the  consent  of  the  towns  in  which  they  lived.  Liberty 
was  granted  to  Fairfieid,  Stratford  and  Norwalk  to  gather  out  of  the  three 
towns  "a  small  cavalry  troop  of 'horse,  with  two  meet  officers  added  to 
exercise  them,  of  their  own  choosing  ;  &  the  troopers  to  be  such  as  are 
approved  by  Lieutenant  Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  Fairchild  &  Mr.  Camfield  ;  the 
officers  to  be  approved  by  the  General  Court.  And  for  proportion  they 

*  Col.  Rec.,  Conn.,  I.,  347. 


104  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1660 

are  to  take  7  out  of  Stratford,  7  out  of  Fairfield,  &  4  out  of  Norwalk."  * 
This  was  the  first  cavalry  force  of  Fairfield.  Lieutenant  Nathan  Gold, 
William  Hill,  Judges  Alexander  Knowles  and  Camfield,were  appointed  to 
settle  the  difference  between  the  Norwalk  inhabitants  and  the  Indians  in 
that  place. 

In  the  month  of  October  a  final  settlement  was  made  with  the  heirs  of 
Mr.  Fen  wick,  in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  the  Say  brook  fort  and  the 
Connecticut  patent.  The  annual  tax  laid  upon  all  the  towns  in  the  colony 
towards  purchasing  the  fort  and  the  old  Connecticut  patent,  had  been  a 
heavy  drain  upon  the  treasury.  A  considerable  uneasiness  existed  in  the 
colony  after  Mr.  Fenwick's  death,  on  account  of  this  purchase  not  having 
been  settled,  or  a  formal  quit-claim  of  the  fort  and  charter  made  over  to 
the  colony.  The  question  had  been  agitated  from  time  to  time,  and  at 
the  May  election  the  court  had  ordered  a  strict  investigation  to  be  made 
into  the  true  value  of  all  estates  within  the  colony,  in  order  that  a  final 
payment  might  be  made  to  Mr.  John  Cullick  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  the 
heirs  of  Mr.  Fenwick.  A  committee  was  appointed  for  this  purpose,  and 
at  the  assembling  of  the  General  Court  in  October,  they  reported  that 
they  had  prepared  the  accounts  of  the  colony  for  a  final  settlement.  The 
court  then  ordered  them  to  draw  up  proper  instruments  towards  perfect- 
ing the  sale,  to  which  the  governor  was  authorized  to  affix  the  colonial 
seal.  On  the  7th  of  October  the  long  desired  settlement  was  made  with 
Mr.  John  Cullick  and  his  wife,  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Fenwick,  who  gave  a  full 
discharge  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut  "  for  all  sums  of  money  due  to  the 
said  Fenwick,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  by  virtue  of  the  agreement  made  with 
Mr.  Fenwick  or  purchase  of  the  river's  mouth."  At  the  final  investigation 
of  the  committee,  it  was  discovered  that  the  colony  had  paid  Mr.  Fenwick 
and  his  heirs  five  hundred  pounds  over  and  above  the  original  agreement. 
This  was  an  important  event  for  the  Connecticut  colony,  and  one  which 
gave  great  satisfaction  to  all  the  towns  in  the  jurisdiction.  Wednesday, 
the  4th  of  October,  was  set  apart  as  a  day  "  of  public  thanksgiving  to  God 
for  his  mercy  in  our  Peace,  Plenty,  Health  &  Liberties  that  we  enjoy." 

The  leading  gentlemen  in  the  colony  were  aware  that  they  did  not  in 
reality  possess  any  of  the  lands  within  the  colony  bounds,  except  such  as 
were  included  in  the  old  patent  ;  and  while  they  now  held  a  legal  claim 
from  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Fenwick  to  this  patent,  they  had  no  confirmation  of 
the  same  from  England.  To  gain  this  most  desirable  end  now  became 
their  chief  aim,  and  no  more  favorable  opportunity  had  presented  itself 
than  the  condition  of  political  affairs  in  England.  The  ambitious  conten- 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  351. 


i66i]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  1 05 

tions  between  Parliament  and  the  army  resulted  in  the  ascendancy  of  the 
army ;  and  General  Monk,  who  was  in  supreme  command,  conceived  it  to 
be  a  fitting  opportunity  to  invite  Prince  Charles  to  return  to  the  throne  of 
his  father.  A  new  Parliament  was  summoned  on  the  25th  of  April,  1660, 
which  was  called  the  Convention  Parliament.  On  the  2/th  a  motion  was 
made  for  the  restoration  of  the  king.  On  the  8th  of  May  Charles  II.  was 
proclaimed  king  in  the  palace  yard  of  Whitehall,  and  at  Temple  Bar. 
General  Monk  advanced  to  meet  him  at  Dover,  and  attended  him  to 
London,  where,  on  the  2Qth  of  May,  which  was  his  birthday,  amid  the 
wildest  enthusiasm  and  acclamations,  he  received  the  greetings  of  his 
people. 

When  this  news  reached  New  England  it  was  universally  resolved  by 
the  magistrates  and  freemen  of  the  Connecticut  colony,  to  acknowledge 
their  allegiance  to  the  king,  and  declare  themselves  "  his  loyal  &  faithful 
subjects.  And  do  further  include  if  necessary,  that  we  should  humbly 
petition  his  Majesty  for  grace  &  favour,  &  for  ye  continuance  &  confor- 
mation of  such  privileges  &  Liberties  as  are  necessary,  for  the  comfortable 
&  peaceable  settlement  of  the  colony."  It  was  voted,  that  the  five 
hundred  pounds,  which  Captain  John  Cullick  was  to  return  to  the  colony, 
should  be  improved  towards  purchasing  a  new  patent. 

Fairfield,  Stratford,  and  Norwalk  failed  to  send  in  their  list  of  estates, 
consequently  the  court  ordered  the  treasurer  "  to  summon  the  delinquents 
to  answer  for  their  transgression."  He  was  also  ordered  to  send  warrants 
to  the  seaside  plantations,  to  gather  their  rates  "  at  such  seasons  as  might 
prevent  the  inconvenience  that  usually  falls  out,  in  failing  of  their  pay- 
ments." The  prospect  of  obtaining  a  new  charter  stimulated  the  plant- 
ers to  make  provisions  for  distributing  their  town  lands,  and  settling  their 
boundaries.  At  a  town  meeting  held  at  Fairfield,  January  3,  it  was  voted, 
that  there  should  be  a  new  planting  field  in  the  Sasqua  fields,  "  to  accom- 
modate all  such  inhabitants  as  were  in  need  of  land  over  ye  Mill  river 
above  Crecroes  brook,  upon  ye  neck  there."  To  such  inhabitants  as 
desired  land,  six  acres  were  allowed  to  a  family,  and  as  much  more  or  less 
as  they  pleased.  The  planters  were  not  to  receive  these  lands  as  their 
own,  but  to  have  the  use  of  them  for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
they  were  to  seed  them  down  as  common  lands.  It  was  also  voted  that 
the  fields  under  improvement  should  be  fenced  ;  and  that  those  who 
neglected  to  fence  their  fields  should  forfeit  them  to  others  who  would. 
That  partiality  might  not  be  shown,  it  was  agreed  that  the  fields  should 
be  drawn  by  a  lottery.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  the  great 
fields,  and  also  each  planter's  field  ;  and  the  planters  were  to  pay  them 


106  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1661 

for  their  trouble.  At  the  same  town  meeting,  Henry  Jackson,  George 
Squire,  and  John  Wheeler  were  appointed  to  lay  out  the  lands  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Uncoa  creek  ;  and  Jehu  Burr  and  Cornelius  Hull  were  "  to  lay 
out  the  common  highways  in  the  great  field  &  meadow  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Uncoa  creek."  It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  planters 
living  on  either  side  of  the  centre  of  Fairfield,  were  called  the  east  and 
west  farmers.  At  a  town  meeting,  held  on  the  2Oth  of  January,  it  was 
voted  that  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  should  be  laid  out  in 
proportion  as  follows:  "  To  a  master  of  a  family  half  an  acre;  to  a 
wife  a  quarter  of  an  acre,  to  a  child  a  quarter  of  an  acre,  &  to  every  hun- 
dred pounds  estate  two  acres,  &  so  proportionally  either  more  or  less." 
Jehu  Burr,  Thomas  Staples,  John  Banks  and  William  Ward,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  large  fields  at  both  ends  of  the 
town,  and  each  family's  proportion  of  land.  Every  head  of  a  family  was 
ordered  to  carry  in  to  the  town  recorder,  the  number  of  his  children  and 
their  ages  within  a  week,  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiting  the  land  due  to 
such  children.  At  a  town  meeting,  held  on  the  loth  of  February,  Lieu- 
tenant Nathan  Gold,  William  Hill,  Jehu  Burr,  Alexander  Knowles,  John 
Burr,  William  Ward  and  John  Banks,  were  chosen  townsmen  for  the  year. 
Nathaniel  Seeley  was  chosen  town  marshal,  and  William  Hill  recorder. 
John  Banks  and  Cornelius  Hull  were  appointed  to  measure  each  man's 
dividend  of  land  at  the  further  end  of  Sasco  neck,  both  upland  and  meadow, 
"  &  if  land  enough  was  found,  to  lay  out  a  high  way  there."  They  were 
given  power  to  exchange  lands  among  the  planters,  and  to  make  a  report 
of  the  common  or  undivided  lands  within  the  township.  "  Eight  acres 
was  confirmed  to  James  Beers,  that  the  Indians  gave  him  in  Sasco  field  or 
Southport." 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  on  the  loth  of  February,  it  was  voted  : 
"  Whereas  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  have  this  day  drawn  lots  for  a  divi- 
dend, ye  lots  to  begin  on  land  next  to  Daniel  Frost's  farm  in  Sasco  field  ; 
&  so  to  run  from  his  land  eastward,  until  ye  land  already  surveyed  at  Sasco 
be  laid  out.  And  from  thence  to  ye  land  surveyed  at  the  place  called 
Mr.  Gold's  meadow;  &  from  thence  to  ye  land  surveyed  at  Old  Pequon- 
nock."  If  any  planter  did  not  like  his  dividend  in  the  two  last  places,  he 
was  at  liberty  to  throw  it  up  and  take  another  place,  "  provided  he  did  not 
take  land  nearer  to  the  meeting-house  than  where  his  dividend  fell."  It 
was  voted  that  these  lands  should  be  given  up  at  the  end  of  eight  instead 
of  ten  years,  after  "  sowing  them  with  hay  seed."  Jehu  Burr  and  John 
Banks  were  appointed  to  lay  out  each  man's  proportion  of  land.  Nathan- 
iel Seeley  and  Sergeant  George  Squire  were  appointed  to  lay  out  the  east 


1661]  PROGRESS  OF   FAIRFIELD  107 

field,  and  Joshua  and  John  Knowles  the  west  field.  On  the  I2th  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  townsmen  voted  that  ten  acres  of  upland,  which  the  town  had 
exchanged  with  Lieutenant  Nathan  Gold,  and  six  acres  of  hassock  or  salt 
meadow,  should  be  laid  out  to  belong  to  the  town  mill,  for  the  use  of  the 
miller.  This  upland  is  the  hill  on  the  south-east  side  of  the  present  Black 
Rock  bridge,  called  the  Old  Mill-hill.  It  was  voted  that  the  town  should 
employ  a  man  to  farm  the  land,  and  to  run  the  mill,  who  was  allowed  the 
sixteenth  part  of  the  grist,  which  was  usually  called  the  toll. 

Owing  to  frequent  shooting  at  marks,  "  it  was  ordered  that  a  fine  of 
IO8'  should  be  exacted  of  every  one  who  should  shoot  within  a  mile  of  the 
town,  except  towards  the  sea,"  half  to  the  informer  and  the  other  half  to 
the  town. 

A  fine  of  155.  a  head  was  laid  upon  any  one  who  should  turn  cattle  or 
hogs  into  the  new  planting  fields  without  a  keeper,  before  the  field  was 
broken  up.  A  new  pound  was  ordered  to  be  erected  at  the  town's 
expense,  and  the  old  one  disposed  of  to  the  best  advantage.  By  an  act  of 
the  General  Court,  all  grants,  sales  of  lands  or  mortgages  were  only  made 
legal  by  the  signature  or  mark  of  the  grantor — with  that  of  two  witnesses 
attached,  which  should  also  be  recorded.  A  law  giving  one  magistrate 
power  to  commit  persons  to  prison  without  bail  was  repealed,  and  the 
recorder  was  cautioned  to  secure  the  interests  of  the  grantee  until  the 
issue  had  been  decided  by  a  legal  trial.  A  lawful  record  of  an}-  grant 
bargain,  sale,  or  mortgage,  was  made  binding,  provided  (if  no  written  deed, 
was  made)  "  it  was  witnessed  by  one  witness  &  the  recorder.* 

At  a  freemen's  meeting,  held  the  last  Tuesday  in  April  "  at  Fairfield, 
Robert  Silliman,  Jr.,  James  Burrs,  Samuel  Bradley,  Jr.,  Thomas  Harvey, 
Ebenezer  Lyon,  &  Eliphalet  Hill  were  made  freemen,  &  took  the  freeman's 
oath."  The  first  Wednesday  in  April  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  "  to  seek  the  favor  of  God  in  yc  occasions  of  ye  ensueing  yeare  ; 
&  y*  God  would  direct  us  in  those  ways  that  may  conduce  to  our  settle- 
ment in  peace  &  privileges;  &  that  peace  &  truth  may  be  settled  in 
England."  According  to  the  grant  of  the  General  Court  in  1649,  that 
the  west  bounds  of  Fairfield  should  extend  to  within  two  miles  of  the 
Saugatuck  river,  a  formal  quit-claim  deed  was  taken  from  the  Maxu- 
mux  and  Sasqua  Indians  on  the  2Oth  of  March.  As  the  Norwalk 
Indians  laid  claim  to  a  right  in  these  lands,  a  quit-claim  deed  was 
received  from  them  on  the  nth  of  April.  The  following  deeds  copied 
from  Letter  A  of  Fairfield  Town  Deeds,  gives  the  names  of  the  chief 
sachems  of  Sasqua,  Maxumux  and  Norwalk  at  that  time. 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  358. 


108  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1661 

DEED  OF    SASQUA. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  yt  wee  whose  names  are  underwritten,  have  sold,  & 
doe  by  these  presents,  sell,  alienate  &  assigne  over  unto  ye  Inhabitants  of  Fairefield,  all 
thet  tract  of  land  commonly  called  Sasqua,  bounded  on  ye  north-east  with  ye  land  called 
Uncaway,  on  ye  south-west  with  ye  land  at  Maximus,  ye  line  on  southwest  runs  close  to 
ye  English  farmes  at  Maximus,  &  this  tract  of  land  is  for  run  from  ye  sea  strait  up  into 
the  country  six  miles  at  ye  least,  taking-  in  all  ye  land  yt  lye  within  that  length  south-west 
to  sd  bounds,  between  us  &  ye  farmes,  (or — if  Sasqua  land  run  on  ye  farme's  mile,  yt 
land  also  to  be  included,)  &  doe  to  close  with  ye  land  yt  we  purchased  of  Poquonock 
Indians,  as  by  a  writing  made  undr  their  hand,  Dated  ye  20*  March  1656:  ye  Inhabi- 
tants of  Fairfield,  they  &  their  heirs,  are  to  possesse  &  enjoy  this  land  forever,  in  as  free 
&  full  a  manner  as  wee  have  done  :  we  have  sold  all  ye  above  sd  tract  of  land,  with  all 
ye  priviledges  appurtenances,  as  Rivers,  trees,  ponds  or  whatever  privilidges  thereunto 
pertaining  to  ye  said  Inhabitants,  for  a  consideration  yt.  fully  satisfies  us;  only  we  will 
have  liberty  of  hunting  in  ye  woods, — only  we  are  to  set  noe  traps  within  ye  six  mile: 
Wee  also  acknowledge  yt  we  are  true  proprietors  of  ye  above  sd  land  :  We  also 
acknowledge  wee  haven  given  in  ye  Indian  field  before  this  sale,  eight  acres  of 
land  to  James  Beers,  in  witness  of  all  which  we  have  hereunto  set  to  ye  hands  this 
20.  March  i6|]?. 

It  is  also  provided  yt  if  in  future  time  Sasqua  Indians,  ye  property  partains  to  them 
or  their  children,  if  they  should  want  some  land  to  plant  on,  ye  town  of  Fairfield  is  to 
allow  them  some  land  to  plant  on  for  their  livelyhood  within  their  bounds,  in  such 
places  as  they  shall  appoint,  &  ye  sd  Indians  Doe  also  sell  liberty  to  ye  town  of  Fair- 
field,  to  bee  commoners  in  all  their  land  beyond  the  above  sd  six  miles  :  ye  Indians  are 
to  fence  their  land  sufficiently  :  In  witness  of  all  ye  above  sd,  ye  sd  Indians,  have  here- 
unto set  their  hands  this  20.  March  i6[j? 

Witnessed  :  Musquot  X  his  mark  Panuncamo  X  his  mark 

Nim  X  rods  marke         Solamorton's  )  v  ,  .  ,     James  alias          )  v  ,  •  , 

A_*U •„  v  _i,  V  X  his  mark    -U,^  „  ^  X  his  mark 


Anthony's  X  ink  Poppoos      j  Wotussawatum 

Tospee  X  his  mark  Cramheag's  Squaw  ] 

Witteren  X  his  mark  Solamorten's  Sister  I  X  his  mark. 

Wissahoes  ) 

These  4  names  subscribed     Wompegan  X  his  mark 
signed,  ye    witnesses  wit- 
nessed,    but     they     were 
here     not     present    with 
them. 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  under  age  when    this  sale  was  made  fully 
consent  to  ye  above  sd  sale,  as  Witness  our  hand  this  i6th  October  1679. 

Creconoes  X  mark 

Witness— William  Hill,  Recorder.  Chickins  X  his  mark. 

Robt.  Bisburn 
John  Basset 
John  *  Jones  mk. 

This  is  a  true  copy  according  to  ye  originall  record, 
&  recorded  by  me  this  25.  Janry  1685. 

Nathan  Gold— Recorder. 
A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  439. 
[Indorsed]  Sasqua  Deed,  20.   March  i6g?-. 


r66r]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  109 

Whereas  there  is  a  deed  of  sale  written  of  Sasqua  land,  &  ye  Indians  had  showed  ye 
English  yt  Sasqua  did  run  west  as  farre  as  ye  Muddy  Creeke,  &  so  to  run  into  ye  country; 
&  whereas  it  doth  now  appear  yt  some  of  Norwalk  Indians  are  ye  true  proprietors  of  part 
of  this  tract  of  land  :  this  Day  Being  ye  IIth  of  April  61,  ye  sd  Norwalk  Indians  &  Sasqua 
Indians,  both  meeting  together,  have  agreed  :  ye  sd  Norwalk  proprietors  being  contented 
with  ye  within  sale  of  ye  tract  of  land  :  shall  be  extended  west  as  farr  as  ye  Muddy 
Creek  near  Compo,  &  so  to  run  up  into  ye  Country  unto  Aspatuck  river  :  &  they  doe  by 
these  presents  acknowle  yt  all  ye  sd  land  as  far  as  ye  Muddy  Creeke  shall  for  ye  future 
partaine  to  ye  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  &  to  their  heirs  for  ever  :  In  witness  whereof  they 
have  hereunto  set  their  hands  this  IIth  April  1661  :  ye  creek  above  called  ye  Muddy 
Creek  :  ye  Indian's  name  is  Werappamaucke 

Momechemen  X  mk 
Weenam  X  mk 
Tospee  X  mk 
Quanumscoes  X  mk 
Aucan  X  mk 

Wee  whose  names  are  underwritten  doe  acknowledge  yt  ye  Indians  have  received  thir- 
teen Coats,  2  yards  apiece,  &  ye  rest  in  Wampum,  which  is  all  yt  Uncoway  Englishmen 
were  to  pay  them  for  ye  Sasqua  land,  &  as  farre  as  ye  Muddy  Creeke.  Witness  or  hands 
this  IIth  Aprill  1661  : 

Panoucamus  X  mk 
Witnesse  Muskot  X  mk 

Mamachin  X  mk  James  X  his  mark. 

Weenam  X  mk 
The  above  are  true  copies  wording  to  ye  originall  compared  and  Recorded  by  me, 

Nathan  gold,  Recorder 
This  25.  of  Feruary  1685.* 
[Indorsed]  Sasqua  Land — April  n.  1661 

The  Bankside  farmers  were  not  at  all  pleased  with  what  they  con- 
sidered to  be  an  unwarrantable  liberty  on  the  part  of  the  town  of  Fairfield, 
in  obtaining  this  grant  from  the  General  Court,  as  well  as  taking  a  formal 
purchase  of  the  Indians,  of  whom  they  had  previously  purchased  their 
lands.  A  contention  arose  between  them  and  the  town,  which  was  not 
fully  settled  for  nearly  fifty  years. 

In  order  that  particular  attention  should  be  paid  towards  educating  the 
children  of  the  town,  the  following  vote  was  passed  :  "  Whereas  the  town 
hath  formerly  voted  that  the  school  master  shall  have  ten  pounds  towards 
his  wages  out  of  the  town  rate,  it  is  now  ordered  the  fifty  pounds  that 
remains  of  his  wages,  shall  be  paid  by  the  masters  &  parents  of  such 
children  as  need  teaching,  from  six  years  old  &  upwards.  And  if  any 
shall  send  their  children  under  six  years,  or  girls,  they  shall  be  esteemed 
payable  scholars.  Sergeant  Squire  &  Robert  Turney  arc  appointed  to 

*  A,  Town  Deeds,  672,  673. 


1 10  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1662 

go  to  each  family  in  the  town,  &  make  trial  what  scholars  are  to  be  payable 
scholars  to  the  school,  &  bring  in  a  list  of  the  names  to  the  secretary, 
that  there  may  be  a  rate  made  to  pay  the  schoolmaster."  This  appears  to 
have  been  the  first  and  only  school  in  the  town,  and  was  without  doubt  kept 
in  the  building  used  as  a  school  and  town  house.  The  Rev.  John  Jones  was 
probably  the  first  school  teacher,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  who  followed 
him,  appears  to  have  been  a  school  teacher  before  he  became  a  minister. 

At  the  annual  election,  Nathan  Gold  was  chosen  a  magistrate  of  the 
General  Court,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  deputies.*  Thomas  Pell 
and  Alexander  Knowles  were  made  assistants  of  the  particular  court  at 
Fairfield,  and  if  either  of  them  declined  to  act,  William  Hill  was  to  supply 
the  office.  The  planters  of  Norwalk  complained  to  the  court  of  the  Fair- 
field  planters  having  trespassed  upon  their  lands,  and  demanded  twenty 
pounds  damages,  which  was  granted.  John  Banks  of  Fairfield,  Richard 
Olmstcad  of  Norwalk,  and  Joseph  Judson  of  Stratford,  were  appointed 
to  run  a  line  from  the  south,  northward  to  the  extent  of  their  bounds 
between  Fairfield  and  Stratford,  and  also  across  the  northern  limits  of  the 
town.  A  petition,  which  Governor  John  Winthrop  had  prepared  to  send 
to  the  king  of  England,  in  reference  to  obtaining  a  charter,  was  read 
before  the  court  and  accepted.  Governor  Winthrop,  deputy  governor 
George  Willis,  Mr.  Allin,  secretary  William  Whiting,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Wareham,  Stone,  and  Hooker  were  appointed  a  committee  to  complete 
the  address  and  draw  up  a  petition  to  be  presented  to  his  Majesty  for  a 
patent.  Governor  Winthrop  was  made  an  agent  to  go  to  England,  and 
enlist  the  favor  of  Lord  Say  and  Scale  and  certain  other  lords  and  nobles 
in  favor  of  the  petition  ;  and  to  present  it  to  the  king.  A  letter  of  credit 
was  given  him  in  June,  to  draw  on  five  hundred  pounds  recovered  from 
the  Fenwick  estate,  towards  defraying  the  expenses  and  obtaining  the 
patent.  A  penny  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  all  estates  to  defray  the 
general  expenses  of  the  colony.  The  list  of  estates  in  Fairfield  this  year 
amounted  £10,423,  45. 

The  third  Wednesday  in  October  was  "  appointed  to  be  kept  a  solemn 
Thanksgiving  throughout  the  Colon)-  for  God's  mercies  in  ye  remaining 
fruits  of  the  earth,  &  for  peace,  &  that  God  is  pleased  to  free  us  from 
ye  mortality  yt  ye  plantations  have  been  afflicted  with."  The  restraint 
placed  upon  Indians  carrying  guns  through  the  town  was  annulled,  pro- 
vided that  not  more  than  ten  Indians  at  a  time  passed  through  any  town. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  John  Cable  and  John  Banks  were  granted  "  all 
the  waste  meadow  in  the  south-west-end,  &  in  Sasco  neck,  which  lay  above 

*CoI.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  365,  366. 


1662]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  III 

a  dam  that  it  was  proposed  should  be  made,  to  prevent  the  tide  from  over- 
flowing the  meadows."  This  dam  was  to  be  made  over  Pine-creek,  with  a 
sluice  to  draw  out  the  fresh  water  above  it.  Any  planter  who  wished  to  join 
in  the  enterprise,  provided  he  performed  an  equal  share  in  draining  the  creek 
and  building  the  dam,  was  to  share  in  the  distribution  of  the  salt  meadows. 
If  the  dam  should  prove  insufficient  for  the  purpose,  or  be  allowed 
to  go  to  decay,  the  lands  were  to  revert  to  the  town.  At  a  General 
Court,  held  on  March  I3th,  fifteen  shillings  was  allowed  for  every  wolf  killed 
within  the  limits  of  a  town.  Leather  sealers  were  allowed  iSs.  for  every 
dicker  of  sealed  leather,  \%d.  half  a  dicker,  and  4</.  a  single  hide.  At  the 
May  election  Lieutenant  Nathan  Gold  was  chosen  an  assistant  in  the 
General  Court,  and  Cornelius  Hull  and  Samuel  Drake  deputies.  The  first 
act  of  the  court  was  to  remove  the  export  duty  on  corn. 

Owing  to  vessels  bringing  tobacco  into  the  harbors  of  the  colony,  with- 
out paying  the  lawful  custom,  under  a  pretense  of  waiting  for  the  procla- 
mation of  King  Charles  to  his  subjects  in  the  colony,  specially  in  regard  to 
the  transportation  of  tobacco  to  England  and  other  countries,  "a  custom 
of  2$s.  pr.  hogshead  or  2d.  per  pound  was  laid  upon  all  merchants  or 
masters  of  vessels  "  disposing  of  the  weed.  Instead  of  cavalry  forces 
meeting  in  one  body  to  drill,  they  were  now  allowed  to  be  exercised  with 
the  militia  under  the  calvary  officers  of  the  towns,  unless  some  superior 
officer  was  present ;  but  on  general  training  days,  "  they  were  to  unite  as 
one  entire  body  of  horse."  Owing  to  too  much  tanned  leather  being 
carried  out  of  the  colony,  it  was  ordered  that  none  should  be  exported 
without  an  order  from  the  court  of  magistrates,  under  a  penalty  of  for- 
feiting the  hides.  Liberty  was  granted  the  town  of  Huntington,  Long 
Island,  which  was  admitted  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut  in  May, 
[660,  to  appeal  in  civil  actions  to  the  particular  courts  of  Fairfield  or 
Stratford.* 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  Fairfield,  June  19,  Richard  Ogden  was 
refused  an  application  for  a  grant  of  four  acres  of  land,  for  the  use  of  the 
mill  on  Mill  river.  It  was  voted  that  the  mill-dam  and  trench  should  be 
finished  without  delay.  John  Banks  and  William  Ward  were  appointed  to 
oversee  the  work,  and  if  needed  to  cause  a  new  dam  and  trench  to  be  made. 
Thomas  Sherwood,  being  the  miller  of  the  new  mill  on  Mill  river,  was 
allowed  the  toll  of  the  grist  until  Ogden's  mill  was  done,  provided  he  kept 
the  "  running  gear  in  order."  Ogden's  mill  was  completed  in  October,  and 
the  committee  were  authorized  to  pay  him  what  had  been  agreed  upon, 
and  to  deliver  up  the  mill  to  his  care.  A  tax  was  levied  upon  the  inhabit- 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  382. 


112  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [j662 

ants  of  the  town  to  pay  for  its  erection  ;  and  John  Cable,  Obediah  Gil- 
bert, and  Samuel  Drake  were  appointed  to  lay  out  the  land  the  town  had 
agreed  to  give  Ogden  adjoining  the  mill.  A  fine  of  6d.  was  laid  upon 
every  man  who  did  not  attend  the  town  meetings,  and  stay  until  they 
closed,  except  with  consent  of  the  town.  At  the  assembling  of  the 
General  Court  at  Hartford  on  the  Qth  of  October,  Governor  Winthrop, 
Deputy  Governor  John  Mason,  twelve  magistrates,  and  twenty-three 
deputies  from  the  towns  were  present,  to  hear  the  reading  of  the  new 
charter  granted  by  King  Charles  II.  Governor  Winthrop  had  received 
every  possible  assistance  from  Lord  Say  and  Scale,  the  Earl  of  Manchester, 
chamberlain  of  his  Majesty's  household,  and  other  noblemen  who  had 
favored  the  Puritan  settlements  in  New  England.  Governor  Winthrop 
possessed  a  valuable  ring,  which  had  been  given  his  father  by  Charles  I., 
which  he  presented  to  the  new  king.  Charles  was  so  much  pleased  to 
receive  this  ring,  which  brought  back  remembrances  of  a  father  to  whom 
he  had  been  devotedly  attached,  that  he  listened  with  great  favor  to  the 
petition,  and  on  the  23d  of  April,  1662,  gave  the  colony  of  Connecticut 
his  letters  patent  under  the  great  seal  of  England.  The  charter  granted 
in  free  and  common  socage  all  the  lands  embraced  in  the  old  Connecticut 
or  Warwick  patent  to  the  colony,  in  nearly  the  same  form  and  words  of 
the  petition,  with  most  ample  and  liberal  privileges  to  those  gentlemen 
whose  names  were  mentioned  in  the  petition.  Major  Nathan  Gold's  name 
was  included  in  the  charter.*  This  charter  did  not  reach  New  England 
until  some  time  in  August,  when  it  was  first  read  to  the  commissioners  of 
the  united  colonies  at  Boston,  September  4-16.  A  special  session  of 
the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  was  called  to  meet  at  Hartford  on  the  Qth 
of  October,  to  receive  and  hear  the  reading  of  the  charter.  Major  Nathan 
Gold,  Cornelius  Hull,  and  Samuel  Drake  were  present  from  Fairfield. 

After  the  reading  of  the  charter  to  the  freemen,  it  was  "  declared  to 
belong  to  them  &  their  successors."  Mr.  Willis,  John  Talcot,  and  Lieu- 
tenant John  Allyn  were  authorized  to  take  it  into  their  care,  and  to  make 
oath  before  the  court  "  for  the  due  discharge  of  the  trust  committed  to 
them."  The  magistrates  and  freemen  then  proceeded  to  establish  the 
order  of  the  courts,  and  the  civil  and  military  officers  of  the  colony,  under 
the  charter.  "  All  the  laws  &  orders  of  the  colony  were  to  stand  in  full 
force  &  virtue,  unless  contrary  to  the  tenor  of  the  charter."  The  officers 
elected  in  May  were  confirmed  by  the  freemen.  From  this  time  the 
General  Court  was  called  the  General  Assembly,  by  which  name  it  was 
designated  in  the  new  charter.  The  constables  of  the  respective  towns 

*Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,   258. 


1662]  PROGRESS  OF  FAIRFIELD  113 

were  ordered  without  delay,  "  to  gather  into  their  hands  all  the  corn 
due  from  their  towns,  to  discharge  the  colonie's  engagement  for  the 
charter."  They  were  instructed  to  exercise  due  care  to  receive  this  tax 
"  in  two  third's  wheat  and  one  third  peas,  dry  &  merchantable."  If  any 
persons  failed  to  pay  their  taxes,  the  constables  were  to  seize  upon  any- 
thing "within  doors  or  without,"  and  to  dispose  of  the  same  to  make  up 
the  sum  needed.  They  were  also  authorized  "  to  hire  or  press  any  persons, 
carts,  boats  or  canoes  that  were  necessary  to  transport  the  corn  and  peas  to 
New  London,"  whence  it  would  be  shipped  to  England.  The  deputies  of 
the  towns  were  requested  to  see  that  the  constables  attended  to  their 
duties,  and  to  take  receipts  from  masters  of  vessels,  "  for  the  whole  pro- 
portion of  corn  for  each  town,"  which  was  to  be  assigned  to  a  committee 
at  New  London.*  Nathan  Gold  of  Fairfield,  Mathew  Camfield  of  Nor- 
walk,  and  Samuel  Sherman  of  Stratford,  or  any  two  of  them,  were 
appointed  to  hire  vessels  to  "  transport  the  corn  from  the  seaside  towns  to 
New  London,"  the  expense  of  which  ''  the  colony  was  to  pay  out  of  the 
next  years  rate."  The  old  seal  of  the  colony  was  ordered  to  continue  in 
use.  The  grant  of  the  new  charter,  and  the  liberal  privileges  it  afforded  to 
all  who  should  settle  in  Connecticut,  was  hailed  throughout  the  colony 
with  great  rejoicing.  The  planters  of  New  Haven,  who  had  been  strong 
supporters  of  Cromwell  against  the  royal  party,  found  themselves  with 
the  towns  of  their  colony,  both  in  Connecticut  and  on  Long  Island, 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  new  patent,  and  therefore  subject  to 
the  laws  of  the  Connecticut  colony. 

The  long  dispute  about  the  Connecticut  boundary  lines  betwen  Massa- 
chusetts on  the  east,  and  Governor  Stuyvesant  on  the  west,  was  defined  in 
the  limits  of  the  charter,  which,  "  included  all  the  territories,  islands, 
rivers,  &c.,  lying  between  the  Narragansett  Bay  &  the  north  boundary  line 
of  the  Massachusetts  colony,"  south  to  the  sea  or  ocean  "  &  in  longi- 
tude as  the  line,  the  same  as  the  Massachusetts  company  from  East  to 
West."  With  more  precipitation  perhaps  than  was  wise,  the  towns  of 
Stamford  and  Guilford  immediately  tendered  their  persons  and  estates  to 
to  Connecticut,  and  were  received  into  the  jurisdiction.  Captain  John 
Youngs  was  sent  a  deputy  from  Southold,  Long  Island,  to  tender  the 
persons  and  estates  of  that  town  to  the  Connecticut  Assembly.  He 
appears  to  have  greatly  enjoyed  this  privilege,  and  had  been  so  loud  in  his 
efforts  to  induce  the  other  English  towns  on  the  Island,  included  within 
the  province  of  New  Amsterdam,  to  follow  the  same  example,  that 
Governor  Stuyvesant  sent  an  agent  with  a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  the 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  385. 


114  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1662 

Assembly,  to  the  effect  that  unless  some  restraint  was  placed  upon 
Captain  John  Youngs'  seditious  proceeding,  just  grounds  would  be  given 
to  the  States  General  and  the  West  India  Company  "  to  demand,  &  by 
such  means  as  they  in  their  wisdom  should  think  meet,  to  recover  all  that 
tract  of  land  between  Greenwich  &  the  Fresh  river."  The  Assembly 
authorized  Captain  Youngs  to  show  Governor  Stuyvesant's  agent  the  new 
charter,  and  to  inform  him  that  they  "  desired  the  Honourable  Lord 
Stuyvesant  would  not  in  anywise  encumber  or  molest  his  Majestie's  sub- 
jects comprehended  within  the  limits  of  the  patent  by  any  impositions, 
that  thereby  more  than  probable  inconveniences  may  be  prevented." 

The  Assembly  then  proceeded  to  notify  the  inhabitants  of  Westchester, 
who  had  previously  been  within  the  limits  of  the  province  of  New  Am- 
sterdam, that  their  plantation  was  included  within  the  limits  of  the  new 
charter,  "  &  to  dispose  of  themselves  as  might  be  most  conducable  to 
their  tranquility."  Greenwich  was  also  taken  into  the  colony.  Nathan 
Gold  and  Assistants  Camfield  and  Sherman  were  appointed  to  hold  a  court 
at  Fairfield,  to  settle  all  controversies  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  char- 
ter;  and  the  towns  of  Stamford,  Greenwich  and  Westchester  were  referred 
to  the  said  court  for  this  purpose.  Among  those  admitted  freemen  of  the 
colony  under  the  new  charter,  was  Thomas  Pell  of  Fairfield  ;  and  Richard 
(Vowels)  Fowles,  who  had  been  living  at  Fairfield,  was  made  a  constable 
of  Greenwich.  Huntington,  Setauket  and  Oyster  Bay  were  also  received 
into  the  colony,  and  with  the  other  newly  admitted  towns,  were  taxed 
towards  paying  for  the  charter.  Captain  Youngs  was  appointed  a  particu- 
lar magistrate  to  hold  a  court  with  the  other  magistrates  on  Long  Island, 
who  were  to  act  with  the  Fairfield  magistrates  in  cases  of  an  obstinate 
character.  He  was  also  authorized  "  to  give  notice  to  Lieutenant  Garde- 
ner &  all  the  other  towns  on  the  Island,"  to  attend  the  General  Assembly 
at  the  next  May  election.  Any  freeman  who  had  committed  a  ;'  scandal- 
ous offense  was  ordered  to  be  disfranchised."  The  salary  of  the  troopers 
which  had  been  annulled,  was  renewed.  The  court  declared  that  the 
Hartford  train-band  should  have  pre-eminence  over  all  the  companies  in 
the  colony.  The  court  ordered  "  free  trade  in  all  places  in  the  colony  ;  " 
and  all  imposed  customs  were  repealed.  John  Green,  Richard  Harvey, 
Joseph  Mead,  Richard  Webb,  Joseph  Weed  and  Peter  Ferris,  from  the 
towns  below  Norwalk,  were  accepted  freemen  of  the  colony,  and  ordered 
to  take  the  freeman's  oath  before  Assistant  Nathan  Gold,  at  the  next  court 
held  at  Fairfield.  Lieutenant  Robert  Seeley  was  "  offered  fifteen  pounds, 
&  a  house  belonging  to  the  Sea-Brook  fort  repaired  for  his  use,  if  he  would 
reside  there,  &  take  care  of  the  ammunition."  A  tax  of  a  penny  on  the 


1663]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  115 

pound  was  levied,  to  pay  the  colony  expenses,  "  to  be  paid  in  wheat,  peas, 
Indian  corn  or  pork  at  current  prices."  Before  adjourning,  the  court 
appointed  "  Wednesday  come  fortnight,  to  be  set  apart  throughout  the 
colony  for  a  solemn  day  of  Thanksgiving,  for  yc  mercies  y'  God  hath 
extended  to  this  Colony  ye  yeare  past,  &  particularly  for  ye  good  success 
God  hath  given  to  ye  endeavours  of  our  Hond  Governor,  in  obtaining  our 
Charter  of  his  Majestic  our  Soveraigne  :  also  for  His  gracious  answer  of 
our  prayer  in  ye  late  drought  in  sending  raine  ;  &  for  abatement  of  sick- 
ness &  for  ye  hppes  we  have  of  settlement  in  ye  waies  of  peace  &  right- 
eousness." * 

At  a  town  meeting  held  at  Fairfield  on  the  twenty-third  of  February  f 
it  was  voted  that  every  owner  of  a  home-lot  should  maintain  a  good  fence 
around  his  premises,  or  make  restitution  to  his  neighbor  for  any  damages 
that  might  occur.  For  every  day's  neglect  of  this  duty  the  owner  was 
required  to  pay  the  fence  viewers.  John  Banks,  Thomas  Staples  and 
Samuel  Drake,  were  voted  a  committee  to  have  fences  made  in  the  great 
meadow  before  the  town  east  of  Paul's  Neck  ;  and  they  were  to  be  paid 
according  to  the  number  of  acres  they  fenced  in,  by  the  owners  of  the 
fields.  If  there  was  any  suitable  plowing  land  belonging  to  the  swamp 
land  in  this  great  meadow,  it  was  to  be  devoted  to  the  use  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Wakeman,  to  be  improved  at  the  town's  pleasure.  At  the  same 
meeting  it  was  voted,  that  a  day  in  the  summer  should  be  set  apart  for 
burning  the  fields,  "  &  that  the  day  should  be  made  known  to  the  inhabit- 
ants, by  the  drummer  beating  his  drum  from  Goodman  Try's  to  Cornelius 
Hull's;  &  on  that  day  every  man  was  to  repair  to  his  fences  to  secure 
them."  A  fine  was  imposed  upon  any  one  who  should  damage  the  new 
fences  by  burning  the  fields  at  any  other  time. 

The  General  Assembly  met  at  Hartford  on  the  nth  of  March.  The 
particular  cause  for  calling  the  Assembly  together  at  this  time  was  to  make 
peace  with  New  Haven,  whose  governor  and  magistrates  were  greatly 
incensed  that  their  colony  should  have  been  included  within  the  limits  of 
the  new  patent.  They  had  declared  before  the  Connecticut  Assembly  at 
the  time  the  charter  was  received,  that  they  would  not  submit  to  the 
authority  of  Connecticut,  and  forthwith  they  made  an  appeal  to  the  king. 
A  letter  was  read  from  Governor  Winthrop,  who  had  returned  to  Eng- 
land, urging  that  force  should  not  be  used  against  New  Haven  ;  that  he 
had  promised  no  injury  should  be  done  to  that  colony,  and  that  the  union 
of  the  two  colonies  should  be  a  voluntary  act.  He  hoped  upon  his  return 
to  effect  an  amicable  union.  This  letter  did  not  change  the  course  of  the 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  390. 


Il6  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1663 

Connecticut  magistrates,  and,  in  consequence  of  "  this  unbrotherly  & 
unrighteous  management,"  New  Haven  declared  that  they  still  appealed 
to  his  Majesty,  "  &  that,  exceedingly  grieved  &  afflicted,  they,  in  the 
sight  of  God,  angels,  &  men,  testified  against  such  proceedings."  John 
Adams  of  Fairfield  was  granted  three  hundred  acres  of  land  near  New 
London,  thirty  acres  of  which  adjoined  the  land  of  his  father,  in  considera- 
tion of  which  he  was  to  relinquish  his  right  to  his  lands  at  Fairfield.  At 
the  May  election  Lieutenant  Gold  was  elected  a  magistrate  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  Cornelius  Hull  deputies  from  Fairfield. 
Three  pounds  were  allowed  by  the  Assembly  towards  defraying  the 
expenses  of  Fairfield,  Stratford  and  Norwalk,  for  "  transporting  their  corn 
to  New  London." 

The  expenses  of  the  particular  courts  held  at  Fairfield,  Stratford  and 
Norwalk  from  March  '61-62  not  yet  settled,  were  ordered  to  be  paid  out  of 
the  colonial  treasury.  It  was  also  ordered  that  a  particular  court  should  be 
held  at  Fairfield  for  the  plantations  at  the  seaside,  on  the  first  Wednesday 
in  November,  "  unless  some  extraordinary  occasion  should  call  for  one  more 
court  the  same  year."  Lieutenant  Gold  was  appointed  one  of  a  commit- 
tee to  settle  with  the  Indian  chief,  Hammonasset,  in  regard  to  his  lands  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  colony,  which  afterwards  comprised  the  townships 
of  Clinton  and  Killingsworth.  He  was  also  made  one  of  another  com- 
mittee, to  settle  troubles  which  had  arisen  about  the  towns  of  Stamford 
and  Westchester. 

Richard  Olmstead,  Joseph  Judson  and  John  Banks  made  a  report  to 
the  Assembly,  that  they  had  completed  the  boundary  line  between  Strat- 
ford and  Fairfield;  that  they  began  at  the  place  agreed  upon  by  the  two 
towns,  "  &  have  run  almost  two  points  from  the  north  point  towards  the 
north-west,  &  run  &  measured  to  the  extent  of  twelve  miles  ;  &  also  have 
run  the  due  cross-line  at  the  end,  which  line  runs  on  the  south  side  of  a 
spruce  swamp,  commonly  called  Monhantic,  &  so  ends  at  the  mouth  of 
ye  Brook,  commonly  called  by  the  English,  the  half  way  brook,  being  above 
Paugusit."  The  court  ordered  the  deputies  of  the  towns  to  meet  at  the 
May  and  October  terms  of  the  Assembly  without  further  notice,  according 
to  the  charter,  and  to  bring  certificates  from  the  constables  of  their  elec- 
tion. The  constables  were  ordered  to  have  charge  of  the  watchmen  of  the 
towns,  and  to  accompany  them  "  where  there  was  an  approach  of  an 
enemy  or  by  fire,"  and  "  to  give  notice  thereof  by  fireing  their  guns,  & 
crying  Fire  !  Fire!  Arms!  Arms!"  In  case  they  met  any  persons  walk- 
ing in  the  street  at  an  unseasonable  hour,  they  were  to  examine  them,  and 
unless  they  could  give  a  good  account  of  themselves,  they  were  to  be  sent 


i66sl  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  117 

to  the  constable  and  from  the  constable  to  the  magistrate,  "  to  give  an 
account  of  their  unseasonable  walking."  The  watchmen  were  to  begin 
their  round  of  duty  "  in  the  evening  by  the  shutting  in  of  the  day  light ; 
&  they  were  to  continue  on  guard  until  the  break  of  day,"  under  a  pen- 
alty of  is.  for  every  default.* 

Owing  to  the  Indians  entering  the  towns  in  the  night,  the  Assembly 
ordered  "  that  whatsoever  Indian  should  be  found  walking  up  &  down 
in  any  town  in  this  corporation,  after  the  day  light  shutting  in,  except  he 
give  sufficient  reason,  shall  forfeit  2OS  5d  to  the  public  treasury,  &  5*  to 
the  informer;  or  else  be  severely  whipped  with  six  stripes  at  least."  It 
was  ordered  that  this  law  should  be  published  to  the  Indians.  The  list  of 
estates  presented  to  the  October  term  of  court  from  Fairfield  was  £11,030, 
gs.  %d.  A  rate  of  a  penny  on  a  pound  was  levied  on  the  estates  in  the 
towns,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  John  Hurd  and  Joseph 
Judson  of  Stratford,  were  appointed  to  settle  the  boundary  line  between 
Fairfield  and  Norwalk,  at  the  charge  of  the  two  towns.  The  Assembly 
thanked  Governor  Winthrop  for  his  great  pains  in  procuring  the  charter. 
The  last  Wednesday  in  October  was  "set  apart  throughout  the  colony,  for 
a  solemn  day  of  thanksgiving  for  the  mercies  God  has  extended  to  us  the 
past  year,  in  the  return  of  our  honoured  Governor;  the  recovery  of  our 
deputy  governor  out  of  his  late  sickness,  the  plentiful  harvest,  a  season- 
able abatement  of  the  waters,  &  continuance  of  peace  &  health  among  us." 

Fairfield,  as  well  as  all  the  other  towns  in  the  colony,  was  greatly 
exercised  by  the  complaints  of  the  New  Haven  colony,  and  by  the 
dissatisfaction  Governor  Stuyvesant  exhibited  about  the  encroachments 
Connecticut  had  made  within  their  territories,  in  receiving  their  towns 
into  the  jurisdiction  ;  and  in  the  face  of  opposition,  appointing  constables 
to  maintain  the  laws  of  the  colony.  Many  individuals  were  glad  to  be 
included  within  the  limits  of  the  new  charter;  but  others  protested  against 
the  measures  adopted,  to  oblige  them  to  submit  to  the  authorities  of  Con- 
necticut. At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united 
colonies  in  September,  it  was  decided  that  New  Haven  had  always  been 
and  was  still  a  distinct  colony.  Governor  Stuyvesant  appeared  in  person, 
and  maintained  his  right  of  jurisdiction  over  the  towns  west  of  Stamford 
and  on  Long  Island,  included  within  the  limits  of  the  new  patent,  accord- 
ing to  the  articles  of  agreement  in  1650.  All  the  united  colonies,  except 
Plymouth,  were  affected  by  the  claims  of  Connecticut,  and  therefore 
mutually  opposed  the  course  the  colony  had  pursued.  The  commission- 
ers, therefore,  decided  that  the  articles  of  agreement  between  Governor 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  403. 


Il8  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1664 

Stuyvesant  was  still  binding,  "  &  that  they  would  not  countenance  any 
violation  of  them."  Massachusetts  interfered  in  behalf  of  the  towns  on 
Long  Island,  and  advised  that  Connecticut  should  apply  to  their  General 
Court  for  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  troubles  in  question.  Upon  his 
return  to  the  Manhadoes,  Governor  Stuyvesant  found  the  towns  on  Long 
Island  in  a  state  of  revolt.  One  Sergeant  Hubbard  was  actively  engaged 
in  obtaining  signatures  to  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Connec- 
ticut, in  which  document  is  the  following  passage:  "  As  we  are  already, 
according  to  our  best  information,  under  the  scurts  of  your  pattent,  so  you 
would  be  pleased  to  cast  over  us  the  scurts  of  your  government's  pro- 
tection."* 

The  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  paid  no  attention  whatever  to 
any  of  these  proceedings,  but  continued  to  exercise  their  authority  under 
the  charter.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  meet  with  a  committee  from 
New  Haven,  to  discuss  the  matter  and  to  satisfy  all  grievances.  Agents 
were  dispatched  to  Governor  Stuyvesant,  with  instructions  that  Con- 
necticut would  "  forbear  to  put  forth  any  authority  over  the  English 
plantations  on  the  westerly  end  of  Long  Island,  provided  the  Dutch 
forbear  to  exercise  any  coercive  power  towards  them."  The  freemen  of 
New  Haven  resolved  not  to  hold  further  parley  with  Connecticut ;  but 
appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  "to  supplicate  divine  mercy  for  the 
afflicted  people  of  God  universally,  &  especially  for  themselves,  that  they 
might  be  directed  to  the  proper  means  of  obtaining  an  established  &  per- 
manent enjoyment  of  their  rights  &  privileges." 

An  important  town  meeting  was  held  at  Fairfield,  February  I5th. 
Lieutenant  Gold  was  chosen  moderator.  It  was  first  voted  :  "  y' whoso- 
ever for  ye  future  is  disorderly  in  ye  town-meetings,  by  speaking  without 
leave  or  will  not  be  silent  according  to  law  &  order  of  the  moderator,  he 
shall  forfeit  to  the  town  treasury  3d  for  every  default,  to  be  added  to  the 
town  rate.  The  moderator  is  to  discern  who  is  delinquent  on  the  prem- 
ises." It  was  then  ordered,  that  for  the  ensuing  year  all  officers  chosen 
for  the  town  should  "have  full  power  to  order  the  prudentials  of  the 
town, "except  in  grants  of  lands,  applications  for  which  were  to  be  sent  in 
to  the  town  meeting.  Two  town  meetings  yearly  were  appointed,  "  one  on 
the  15.  of  February,  &  another  on  the  15.  of  August."  If  the  above 
dates  fell  on  the  Sabbath,  the  Monday  following  was  to  be  the  town 
meeting  day.  If  occasion  required,  as  many  town  meetings  could  be 
called  between  these  intervals  as  might  be  necessary.  It  was  also  voted 
"  that  what  the  townsmen  shall  do  in  any  of  ye  meetings  shall  be  binding 

*  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's  History  of  New  York  City. 


1664]  PROGRESS   OF  FAIRFIELD  \\g 

upon  ye  inhabitants,  provided  it  was  published  on  a  Lecture  day,  or  by  a 
writing  nailed  to  ye  meeting-house  door." 

All  staves  for  making  hogsheads  and  barrels,  were  to  be  held  in 
common  in  the  undivided  lands,  "  unless  a  quantity  had  been  gathered 
together  in  one  place."  The  following  day,  it  was  voted  that  the  East 
Farmers  should  meet  together,  "  &  settle  their  home-lot  fences  in  general 
&  in  particular,  &  if  they  did  not  meet  &  agree,  the  townsmen  would 
take  a  speedy  course  to  settle  it." 

As  several  persons  h?.d  "  been  entertained  in  Fairfield  without  leave 
of  the  townsmen,  contrary  to  an  express  law  of  the  colony,  the  marshal 
was  ordered  immediately  to  give  warning  to  all  such  persons  entertaining 
strangers,  that  their  guests  should  leave  within  24 hours  after  such  notice; 
&  they  were  to  give  no  further  entertainment  to  such  persons,  under  a 
penalty  of  the  said  law  exacted  on  them,  as  well  for  the  present  as  for  the 
time  to  come."  Two  shillings  and  six  pence  was  granted  for  every  wolf 
killed  within  the  town  bounds,  provided  the  heads  were  first  exhibited  to 
the  town  treasurer. 

John  Banks  and  Henry  Jackson  were  appointed  to  run  the  town 
bounds  between  Stratford  and  Norwalk.  Ezekiel  Sandford  was  "granted 
the  use  of  ten  acres  of  land  at  Uncoway  neck,  to  erect  a  tan-yard  upon  for 
three  years."  At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  in  March,  Mr. 
Thomas  Pell,  of  Fairfield,  was  authorized  "  to  buy  all  the  lands  of  the 
Indian  proprietors  between  West  Chester  &  the  Hudson  River  (that  makes 
Manhadoes  an  Island),  &  lay  it  to  West  Chester,  provided  that  it  be  not 
purchased  by  any  before,  nor  in  their  possession."  "Thomas  Pell  was  the 
second  English  purchaser  of  land  within  the  boundaries  of  the  present  West- 
chester  County :  the  tract  which  he  bought  of  the  Indians  included  the 
spot  where  Ann  Hutchinson  &  her  family  sought  a  last  refuge  from  Puri- 
tan persecution,  &  became  the  victim  of  indiscriminate  savage  ferocity."* 

This  purchase  was  made  about  1661,  and  undoubtedly  with  a  view  to 
the  approaching  claims  of  the  Duke  of  York  to  the  province  of  New 
Amsterdam.  By  virtue  of  the  authority  he  now  received,  "  Mr.  Pell 
bought  of  the  Indians  all  the  country  lying  between  Westchester  &  the 
North  River,  including  Spuyten-Duyvil  Creek,  which  the  Dutch  had  pur- 
chased fifteen  years  before." 

About  the  same  time  Charles  II.  granted  his  brother,  the  Duke  of 
York  and  Albany,  a  large  portion  of  Maine,  and  "  all  the  territories,  islands, 
rivers,  &c.,  from  the  West  side  of  the  Connecticut  River  to  the  east  side 
of  the  Delaware  Bay."  "This  grant  included  Martha's  Vineyard,  Nan- 

*  Bryant's  Hist,  of  the  United  States,  Vol.  II.,  p.  245. 


120  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

tucket,  all  Long  Island,  &  the  whole  of  the  territory  of  the  New  Nether- 
lands." In  one  sense  this  was  pleasing  news  to  the  New  England  colonies, 
but  in  another  it  was  a  subject  of  great  uneasiness.  The  approach  of  the 
long-dreaded  English  governor,  and  almost  paramount  to  this,  the  introduc- 
tion of  Episcopacy,  seemed  near  at  hand.  This  intelligence  was  brought 
to  America  by  Captain  John  Scott,  of  Long  Island.  He  had  been  a  warm 
agitator  in  annexing  the  English  colonies  on  Long  Island  to  Connecticut. 
"  He  had  served  in  the  army  of  Charles  I.,  &  his  father  had  spent  his  for- 
tune, &  at  last  his  life  in  the  service  of  that  unhappy  king."  Scott,  there- 
fore, felt  that  he  had  a  just  claim  on  the  new  king's  favor.  He  visited 
England  and  procured  a  commission  from  the  committee  of  foreign 
plantations  with  George  Baxter  and  John  Maverick,  of  Boston,  to  examine 
into  the  titles  of  the  English  and  Dutch  claims.  The  towns  on  the  west 
end  of  the  Island,  which  had  been  placed  by  the  agreement  between  Con- 
necticut and  Governor  Stuyvesant  in  a  neutral  position,  welcomed  Scott's 
return,  and  chose  him  their  president  until  the  Duke  of  York  should 
arrive  and  establish  a  new  government. 

The  wildest  disorder  followed  on  Long  Island  and  at  the  Manhadoes. 
President  Scott  proceeded  to  raise  an  army  to  reduce  the  Dutch  ;  but  by 
a  happy  stroke  of  policy,  Governor  Stuyvesant  arranged  with  him  that  the 
English  towns  should  place  themselves  under  any  government  they  chose, 
and  that  the  other  Dutch  possessions  should  continue  in  the  old  order  of 
government  for  one  year,  or  at  least  until  the  Dutch  and  English  bound- 
aries were  settled  by  reference  to  England.  Scott  assumed  a  high-handed 
course  in  the  Connecticut  and  New  Haven  towns  on  the  Sound,  stirring 
up  a  seditious  spirit  towards  the  colonial  government.  A  proclamation 
was  issued  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  for  his  arrest,  on  the 
charges  of  "speaking  against  the  king  ;  seditious  carriage  ;  encouraging  the 
nations  in  hostilities  ;  usurping  the  authority  of  the  king;  threatening  his 
Majestie's  subjects  with  hanging  &  banishment  ;  profaning  the  Sabbath  ; 
purjury  &  violation  of  his  solemn  oath;  treachery  to  the  Connecticut 
Colony;  calumniating  one  of  the  commissioners,  &  usurping  authority 
upon  pretense  of  a  commission."  Therefore  every  civil  officer  within  the 
plantations  of  New  Haven,  Milford,  Brandford,  Stratford  and  Fairfield  was 
ordered,  in  his  Majesty's  name,  to  arrest  President  Scott,  and  carry  him 
peaceably  to  Hartford.  This  proclamation  was  signed,  "  God  save  the 
King!" 

Scott  was  accordingly  arrested  and  imprisoned  at  Hartford,  and  all  his 
estate  was  confiscated  for  the  time  being.  He,  however,  made  his  escape 
soon  after.  The  towns  Connecticut  claimed  on  Long  Island,  were 


1664]  PROGRESS  OF  FAIRFIELD  121 

instructed  to  obey  "  the  orders  of  the  officers  placed  over  them  by  the 
Assembly."  A  public  fast  was  appointed  throughout  the  colony,  "  to 
seek  God  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  smile  upon  us,  &  succeed  the  labors 
&  endeavors  of  his  people,  in  the  occasions  of  the  ensuing  yeare,  that 
health  may  be  continued  among  us,  that  peace  &  truth  maybe  established 
among  ourselves,  &  throughout  his  Majesties  dominions."  At  the  election 
in  May,  Lieutenant  Gold  was  chosen  an  assistant ;  Thomas  Pell  and  John 
Banks,  deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr,  a  commissioner  for  Fairfield.*  Long 
Island  was  pronounced  under  the  charter  as  one  of  the  islands  belonging 
to  Connecticut.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  "  go  to  Long  Island  & 
settle  the  English  plantations  under  the  control  of  the  colony;  &  in  case 
of  crimes  of  a  capital  nature,  they  were  authorized  'to  carry  them  '  to  the 
Courts  of  Fairfield  or  Hartford"  John  Burr,  jr.,  of  Fairfield,  was  made 
a  freeman  ;  and  Lieutenant  Gold  was  ordered  to  administer  the  freeman's 
oath  to  him. 

On  the  23d  of  July,  there  arrived  at  Boston  a  fleet  of  four  ships,  having 
on  board  about  "  four  hundred  &  fifty  well  trained  soldiers,"  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Richard  Nichols,  for  the  reduction  of  the  Dutch.  Colonel 
Nichols  was  also  commissioned  by  the  king,  with  George  Cartwright,  Esq., 
Sir  Robert  Carr,  and  Samuel  Maverick,  Esq.,  to  visit  the  New  England 
colonies  "to  hear&  determine  all  controversies  between  them,  &  settle  the 
country  in  peace."  f  Governor  Winthrop,  with  several  gentlemen  of  the 
Connecticut  Assembly  and  colony,  were  notified  to  join  Colonel  Nichols 
at  the  west  end  of  Long  Island.  Governor  Stuyvesant  was  overwhelmed 
with  his  unfortunate  situation.  He  was  on  a  visit  to  Fort  Orange  (August 
6),  where  he  had  gone  to  settle  troubles  which  had  arisen  with  the  Indians 
on  the  north,  when  he  received  news  that  the  fleet  had  not  only  arrived 
at  Boston,  but  was  on  its  way  to  the  Manhadoes.  The  factious  state  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  towns  under  his  control,  made  him  almost  helpless 
to  contend  against  so  formidable  an  attack.  With  his  usual  courage, 
however,  he  prepared  to  make  every  possible  resistance.  A  tradition 
exists  that  he  went  to  Hartford  to  negotiate  a  neutrality  with  Connec- 
ticut ;  and  that  while  there  he  received  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  Duke  of 
York's  fleet,  '•  which  caused  him  to  return  home  without  a  moment's 
delay."  Upon  his  arrival  he  found  the  fleet  in  the  bay,  and  being  sum- 
moned to  surrender  the  fort  and  city,  he  drew  up  a  long  statement  of  the 
rights  of  the  Dutch,  in  which  he  refused  to  believe  that  the  king  would 
ever  have  taken  such  measures  against  him,  if  he  had  understood  the 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  I.,  425,  426. 
f  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  278. 


122  HISTORY    OF    FAIRFIELD  [1664 

justice  of  his  claims.  The  brave  old  governor  concluded  his  letter  by 
refusing  to  surrender  the  fort  or  the  city,  "  nor  fear  any  evil  but  such  as 
God,  in  his  providence,  should  inflict  upon  him." 

Governor  Winthrop,  who  had  joined  the  fleet  with  a  reinforcement  of 
Connecticut  volunteers  at  the  point  designated,  was  sent  under  a  flag  of 
truce  with  a  letter  to  the  infuriated  Stuyvesant,  offering  most  liberal  terms, 
and  everything  to  remain  as  it  was,  save  that  the  colony  would  from  hence- 
forth be  under  the  jurisdiction  of  England.  Stuyvesant  refused  to  show 
the  letter  to  the  burgomaster,  and  in  his  wrath  tore  it  in  pieces.  It  was 
gathered  up,  however,  and  put  together,  so  that  its  contents  could  be  read 
and  copied.  Still,  with  but  about  one  hundred  soldiers,  Stuyvesant  refused 
listen  to  the  advice  of  his  counselors  or  to  surrender  the  city.  The  Con- 
necticut forces  and  a  company  of  cavalry,  with  the  troops  of  two  of  the 
ships,  were  ordered  to  prepare  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  rear,  while  the 
soldiers  of  the  two  other  ships  were  to  sail  up  before,  and  bombard  the 
city.  Upon  seeing  the  ships'  guns  covering  the  city,  Stuyvesant  "  stood 
on  the  walls  of  the  fort  by  the  side  of  a  gun,  the  gunner  ready  with  his 
lighted  match."  Being  counseled  not  to  be  the  first  to  shed  blood,  by 
Dominie  Magapolensis  and  his  son,  he  left  the  fort,  followed  by  its  garri- 
son, to  resist  the  landing  of  the  enemy's  troops.  He  wrote  again  to  Colonel 
Nichols  demanding  a  neutral  agreement,  to  which  he  received  a  reply  that 
the  attack  would  be  made  the  next  day,  "  &  he  would  be  a  bold  man  who 
would  come  on  board,  unless  the  white  flag  was  hung  out  from  the  fort." 
The  panic-stricken  burgomasters  signed  a  petition,  urging  that  the  city 
should  be  surrendered.  Even  Stuyvesant's  sons'  names  were  among  the 
petitioners.  Still  the  old  soldier  could  not  yet  surrender  the  city  he  loved 
so  well,  or  strip  himself  of  the  dignity  of  his  character  and  of  his  office. 
The  next  day,  however,  the  iSth  of  September,  Stuyvesant  and  his  force 
marched  out  of  Fort  Amsterdam,  and  went  on  board  ships  lying  in  the 
East  River,  bound  for  Holland.  At  the  same  time  Colonel  Nichols  with 
"six  columns  of  English  soldiers  filed  through  the  streets  of  the  city." 
The  English  flag  was  hoisted  over  the  fort,  the  gates,  and  other  principal 
buildings  of  the  city.  Colonel  Nichols  was  proclaimed  governor  by  the 
burgomasters.  New  Amsterdam  was  named  New  York,  and  Fort  Amster- 
dam Fort  James.  A  few  days  later  Fort  Orange  or  Urania  surrendered, 
and  was  named  Fort  Albany  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  York's  second  title. 
On  the  ist  of  October  the  Dutch  possessions  in  Delaware  were  surren- 
dered to  Sir  Robert  Carr.* 

These  active  measures  spread  general  alarm  in  the  New  England  col- 
*  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's  Hist,  of  New  York,  Vol.  I.,  209-217. 


1664]  PROGRESS   OF   FA1RFIELD  123 

onies,  especially  in  Massachusetts  and  New  Haven.  Connecticut  had  little 
to  fear,  save  a  general  sense  of  disquietude  about  her  newly  acquired 
charter  privileges,  and  the  effort  of  William  and  Anne,  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Hamilton,  who  had  petitioned  the  king  to  restore  to  them  the 
territory  in  New  England  granted  to  their  father,  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton, 
in  1635,  which  petition  the  king  had  referred  to  Colonel  Nichols  and 
the  other  commissioners  with  him.  Massachusetts  demurred  in  July  to 
Colonel  Nichols's  demand  for  assistance  to  reduce  the  Dutch  ;  but  Connec- 
ticut yielded  without  hesitation,  and  sent  her  quota,  of  which  Fairfield  bore 
her  proportion.  No  sooner  had  the  fleet  left  Boston  for  New  Amsterdam, 
than  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  sent  Mr.  Whiting  of  New  Haven 
home,  to  advise  that  colony  to  join  with  Connecticut  in  accepting  and 
maintaining  their  chartered  rights,  as  a  matter  of  duty  not  only  to  them- 
selves, but  to  all  the  New  England  colonies.  Accordingly,  on  the  iith  of 
August,  Governor  Leete  of  New  Haven  convened  a  General  Court  to 
weigh  the  matter;  and  after  a  lengthy  debate  it  was  decided  to  yield  to 
the  claims  of  Connecticut,  until  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  which 
was  near  at  hand. 

The  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  met  at  Hartford  on  the  1st 
of  September,  and  strongly  recommended  the  union  of  the  two  colonies, 
which,  they  declared,  involved  the  interest  and  welfare  of  the  other  col- 
onies, and  that  resistance  to  the  king's  charter  would  be  disastrous  to  the 
liberties  of  the  people  in  all  the  colonies,  especially  to  Connecticut.  They 
recommended  if  New  Haven  became  incorporated  with  Connecticut  as 
one  colony,  that  they  should  be  allowed  to  send  two  commissioners  to 
the  annual  meetings,  "  &  that  the  determination  of  any  four  of  the  six 
should  be  equally  binding  on  the  confederates,  as  the  conclusion  of  six 
out  of  eight  had  been  before.  It  was  proposed  that  the  meeting  which 
of  course  had  been  at  New  Haven  should  be  at  Hartford."  It  was  also 
proposed  that  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners  should  from  henceforth 
be  triennial.* 

The  General  Assembly  recommended  the  churches  throughout  the 
colony  to  consider  if  it  was  not  their  duty  to  entertain  all  persons  who 
were  of  an  honest  and  godly  conversation,  having  a  competent  knowledge 
of  Christianity,  to  be  allowed  by  an  explicit  covenant  to  join  with  them  in 
church  fellowship,  that  they  might  have  their  children  baptized;  "and 
that  all  the  children  of  the  church  be  accepted  &  counted  real  members  of 
the  church,  with  due  care  &  watchfulness  over  them,  &  that  upon  their 
being  grown  up,  they  should  be  examined  before  the  officers  of  the 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  270. 


124  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1664 

churches,  before  they  should  be  admitted  to  the  Lord's  supper."  *  This 
advice  was  very  pleasing  to  those  who  had  complained  most  bitterly  of 
having  been  deprived  of  their  liberties  as  freemen.  A  copy  of  this  recom- 
mendation was  ordered  to  be  sent  to  all  the  ministers  in  the  colony. 

The  people  of  New  Haven  received  this  advice  with  great  opposition. 
They  declared  that  "  to  stand  as  God  had  kept  them,  was  their  best  way," 
consequently  no  vote  for  a  union  could  be  obtained.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Daven- 
port and  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  of  Brandford,  were  strongly  opposed 
to  the  union  on  account  of  the  liberality  of  the  civil  franchise  of  Connec- 
ticut ;  for  they  held  to  the  opinion  that  none  should  be  freemen  but  com- 
municants of  the  Congregational  persuasion.  The  danger  of  the  magis- 
trates losing  their  offices  was  also  a  strong  point  of  opposition  ;  and  still 
another  strong  point  was  the  mortification  of  yielding  to  Connecticut, 
after  having  so  long  been  a  distinct  colony.  At  this  important  crisis  the 
General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  met  on  the  I3th  of  October,  and  with 
grave  apprehensions  decided  to  pay  every  respect  to  the  Duke  of  York's 
commissioners.  It  was  ordered  that  Colonel  Nichols  and  the  rest  of  the 
commissioners  be  sent  five  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  as  a  present  from  Con- 
necticut. Lieutenant  Gold,  of  Fairfield,  with  three  other  gentlemen,  were 
appointed  "  to  accompany  Governor  Winthrop  to  New  York,  to  congratu- 
late his  Majestie's  Honourable  Commissioners  ;  &  if  a  fitting  opportunity 
offered,  to  settle  the  bounds  between  the  Duke's  patent  &  that  of  Con- 
necticut." A  committee  was  appointed  to  settle  the  bounds  between  the 
colony  and  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  according  to  the  limits  of 
their  respective  charters.  Another  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the 
towns  belonging  to  the  New  Haven  Colony,  and  in  the  name  of  the  king 
require  the  inhabitants  "  to  submit  to  his  Majestie's  gracious  grant  to  the 
colony,"  and  to  receive  their  answer.  The  Assembly  invested  Governor 
Leete  and  the  magistrates  of  New  Haven  with  authority  to  assist  in 
governing  the  plantations  of  that  colony,  according  to  the  laws  of  Con- 
necticut, or  with  as  many  of  their  own  laws  as  were  not  contrary  to  the 
charter. 

The  list  of  estates  presented  to  the  Assembly  from  Fairfield  at  this 
time,  was  valued  at  ^11,746,  i  is. 

Fairfield  was  called  upon  this  year  to  mourn  the  loss  of  her  first  min- 
ister, the  Rev.  John  Jones.  Amid  the  many  trials  attending  a  settlement 
in  a  new  country,  he  had  faithfully  served  his  people  for  twenty  years,  and 
had  walked  among  them  as  a  father,  during  those  days  of  alternate  sun- 
shine and  gloom.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  his  longing  to  return 

*  Conn.  Col.   Rec.,  I.,  438. 


1664]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  12$ 

to  his  friends  in  Massachusetts,  and  of  his  final  decision  to  remain  in  Fair- 
field.  A  more  particular  mention  however  is  due  to  his  memory.  In 
Edward  Johnson's  history  of  New  England,  or  Wonder  Working  Provi- 
dence of  Zion's  Saviour,  Mr.Jones  is  represented  to  have  been  a  "  Valiant 
Leader  of  Christ's  Souldiers,  a  holy  man  of  God."  As  a  tribute  of  his 
respect  and  admiration  for  him,  Mr.  Johnson  left  the  following  sonnet: 

"  In  Desart's  depths  where  Wolves  &  Beares  abide, 
There  Jones  sits  down  a  wary  watch  to  keepe 
O'er  Christ's  deare  flock,  who  now  are  wandered  wide  ; 
But  not  from  him,  whose  eyes  ne're  close  in  sleep. 
Surely  it  suits  thy  melancholly  minde 
Thus  solitary  for  to  spend  thy  dayes, 
Much  more  thy  soule  in  Christ  Content  doth  finde, 
To  work  for  Him,  who  thee  to  joy  will  raise. 
Leading  thy  son  to  Land,  yet  more  remote, 
To  feed  his  flock  upon  the  Western  Waist  : 
Exhort  him  then  Christ's  kingdome  to  promote  ; 
That  he  with  thee  of  lasting  joyes  may  taste." 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Jones  proved  most  acceptable  to  his  congregation. 
With  the  tide  of  emigration  from  Europe  and  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
his  church  rapidly  increased  in  numbers.  He,  with  his  children,  became 
sharers  with  the  planters  of  Uncoway  in  the  several  divisions  of  lands, 
which  the  town,  from  time  to  time,  apportioned  among  the  inhabitants. 
Even  after  his  death,  his  widow  and  children  continued  to  receive  their 
shares  of  dividend  lands.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  Mr.  Jones  was  buried 
in  the  cemetery  lying  on  the  south  side  of  Concord  street  and  in  the  rear 
of  the  land  which  surrounded  his  house.*  This  cemetery  is  mentioned  in 

*  There  has  existed  a  great  deal  of  doubt  among  many  about  this  cemetery  having  been  the 
oldest  in  the  town.  The  following  entry,  however,  which  is  found  among  the  town  votes,  proves 
conclusively  that  it  was  the  first  burial-place  of  Fairfield  :  "  March  10,  1682,  John  Bulkley  sub- 
mits to  maintain  under  view,  ye  line  of  fence  from  ye  south-east  end  of  Mr.  Jehu  Burr's  fence,  till 
they  meet  with  John  Bulkley 's  side  fence — this  until  he  runs  a  strait  range  from  Mr.  Burr's  rear  to 
ye  '  burying  /till'."  Mr.  John  Bulkley  was  a  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones.  In  1673  several 
of  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Jones  sold  their  interests  in  his  estate  to  the  said  John  Bulkley,  at  which  time 
he  became  the  possessor  of  all  the  land,  with  the  exception  of  that  occupied  by  Mrs.  Jones  near 
Edward's  pond.  Another  conclusive  proof  that  this  is  the  oldest  burial  place  in  the  town,  is  the 
record  of  thirty  acres  of  land  granted  to  Roger  Ludlow  in  1653  in  the  great  meadow  (the  home- 
meadow,  or  the  meadow  before  the  town',  "  bounded  north  west  with  the  swamp  land  &  the  bury- 
ing-place,  north  east  with  the  land  of  Francis  Purdie,  on  the  south  east  with  the  sea  beach  & 
swamp  land,  &  south  west  with  the  land  of  Nathaniel  Baldwin."  This  boundary  places  the  first 
grave-yard  north-west  of  the  sea  beach,  and  but  a  short  distance  from  it  ;  while  the  boundary  of 
John  Bulkley's  land  places  it  north-east  of  Mr.  Jehu  Burr's  fence  and  his  own  land  ;  thus  locating 
it  precisely  where  it  has  ever  since  remained. 


126  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1664 

the  town  records  as  "  BURIAL-HILL."  The  stone  which  marked  his  grave, 
like  those  of  many  others,  has  crumbled  away,  or  been  covered  with  the 
deposits  of  time.* 

Jehu  Burr,  Robert  Turney,  John  Knowles,  Joseph  Lockwood,  Robert 
Beacham,  Simon  Crouch,  John  Barlow,  sr.,  John  Barlow,  jr.,  James 
Evarts,  Peter  Coly,  Thomas  Sherwood,  William  Hayden,  John  Gruman, 
Francis  Bradley,  John  Hoit,  Stephen  Sherwood,  Nathaniel  Burr,  Richard 
Lyon,  Samuel  Wakeman,  Thomas  Bennet,  Thomas  Wilson,  James  Beers, 
John  Odell,  Richard  Hubbell,  all  of  Fairfield,  were  accepted  this  year 
as  freemen  ;  and  Lieutenant  Gold  and  Assistant  Samuel  Sherman,  of 
Stratford,  were  appointed  to  administer  the  freeman's  oath  to  them. 
Two  pence  farthing  to  the  pound  was  levied  upon  all  the  towns  to 
defray  the  colony  expenses. 

A  day  of  general  thanksgiving  was  ordered  throughout  the  colony.  In 
November,  Lieutenant  Gold  accompanied  Governor  Winslow  and  the 
other  members  of  the  committee  appointed  to  wait  on  Colonel  Nichols,  to 
New  York.  After  full  explanations  were  made  in  behalf  of  the  claims  of 
Connecticut,  the  royal  commissioners  settled  the  boundary  line  between 
New  York  and  Connecticut  as  follows : 

"That  the  southern  bounds  of  his  Majesty's  colony  of  Connecticut,  is  the  sea  ;  £  that 
•Long  Island  is  to  be  under  the  government  of  his  royal  highness,  the  duke  of  York,  as  is 
expressed  by  plain  words  in  the  said  patents  respectively.  We  also  order  &  declare, 
that  the  creek  or  river  called  Mamaronock,  which  is  reputed  to  be  about  twelve  miles  to 
the  east  of  West  Chester,  &  a  line  drawn  from  the  east  point  or  side,  where  the  fresh  water 
falls  into  the  salt,  at  high  water  mark,  north-north-west,  to  the  line  of  Massachusetts,  be 
the  western  bounds  of  the  said  colony  of  Connecticut  ;  &  the  plantations  lying  westward 
of  that  creek,  £  line  so  drawn,  to  be  under  his  royal  highness's  government  ;  &  all  plan- 
tations lying  eastward  of  that  creek  &  line,  to  be  under  the  government  of  Connecticut."  t 

Soon  after  this  happy  adjustment  of  the  long-disputed  boundaries,  New 
Haven  called  a  special  court,  and  resolved,  that  while  they  could  not 
approve  of  the  course  Connecticut  had  pursued  towards  them,  nevertheless, 
"  when  an  authentic  copy  of  the  determination  of  his  Majestie's  Commis- 
sioners is  published,  to  be  recorded  to  us,  if  thereby  it  shall  appear  to  our 
committee,  that  we  are  by  his  Majestie's  authority,  now  put  under  Con- 

*  That  no  grave-stones  were  erected  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Jones  or  to  any  of  his  family  is  an 
absurdity.  The  country  abounded  with  stones.  The  Blue  Stone  quarry  at  Greenfield,  and  the 
granite  quarry  at  Pequonnock,  with  other  suitable  stones,  offered  an  abundant  supply  of  material. 
The  very  reverence  entertained  for  Mr.  Jones'  position  and  years,  would  have  led  his  people,  as 
well  as  his  family,  to  mark  his  grave,  as  many  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  had  grave-stones.  See 
Mrs.  Burr  Perry's  Grave- Yards  of  Fairfield. 

fTrumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  525. 


1665]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  \2"J 

necticut  patent,  we  shall  submit,  by  a  necessity  brought  upon  us,  by  the 
means  of  Connecticut  aforesaid  ;  but  with  a  saho  jure  of  our  former  rights 
&  claims,  as  a  people,  who  have  not  yet  been  heard,  in  point  of  plea." 

On  the  5th  of  January  following,  Governor  Lecte  met  with  the  General 
Court  of  New  Haven  again,  when  a  letter  was  sent  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  Connecticut,  in  which  they  said  :  "  we  now  signify  that  having  seen  the 
copies  of  his  Majestie's  Commissioners  determination  (deciding  the  bounds 
betwixt  his  higness  the  Duke  of  York  &  Connecticut  Charter),  we  do 
declare  our  submission  thereunto,  according  to  the  true  intent  of  our  vote 
unto  which  we  refer  you."  As  their  governor  and  magistrates  had  been 
chosen  for  the  year,  they  also  stated  that  they  would  make  no  change 
until  the  year  had  expired.  From  this  time  the  union  of  the  two  colonies 
was  fully  settled,  and  thus  Connecticut  came  to  be  possessed  for  so  many 
years  of  the  two  capitals,  Hartford  and  New  Haven. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  on  the  2Oth  of 
April,  a  series  of  propositions  was  presented  by  the  Duke  of  York's  com- 
missioners, the  first  of  which  was  to  the  effect,  that  all  the  inhabitants  in 
the  colony  should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  the  king's  name.  To  this 
the  Assembly  replied,  that  according  to  his  Majestie's  charter,  a  governor 
had  been  chosen,  who  had  appointed  meet  persons  to  administer  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  which  had  already  generally  been  administered,  "  &  that  it 
had  been  &  shall  be  in  his  Majestic  s  name."  To  the  second  proposition, 
that  all  men  of  competent  estates  and  civil  conversation,  though  differing 
in  judgment,  may  be  admitted  freemen,  and  have  liberty  to  choose  their 
civil  and  military  officers,  a  reply  was  sent,  "  that  this  had  always  been  done 
in  the  Connecticut  colony."  To  the  third  proposition,  that  all  persons 
should  be  allowed  to  enjoy  the  worship  of  God  in  whatever  way  they 
pleased,  provided  it  did  not  tend  to  disturb  the  public,  or  hinder  the  main- 
tenance of  the  ministers  regularly  chosen  in  any  town  or  parish,  the  reply 
was,  "  that  they  did  not  know  of  any  one  who  had  been  troubled  by  us  for 
attending  his  conscience,  provided  he  had  not  disturbed  the  public."  To 
the  fourth  proposition,  that  all  laws  derogatory  to  his  Majesty  should  be 
repealed,  the  answer  was,  "  they  were  not  aware  that  there  were  any  such 
laws,  but  if  such  existed  they  were  repealed  upon  the  receipt  of  the  char- 
ter." A  proposition  from  Colonel  Nichols,  that  gentlemen  should  be 
appointed  to  assist  in  case  of  foreign  invasion,  was  referred  to  the  May  term. 

The  governor  and  the  other  officers  of  New  Haven  were  nominated  to 
be  assistants  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut.  It  was  also  unani- 
mously voted  that  all  the  former  disagreements  and  actings,  "on  the 
part  of  the  New  Haven  colony,  so  far  as  they  concerned  the  Connecticut 


128  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1665 

colony,  be  buried  in  perpetual  oblivion  never  to  be  called  to  account." 
An  effort  to  effect  a  more  speedy  way  for  conveying  public  letters 
through  the  towns,  was  left  to  the  consideration  of  the  other  colonies.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  reply  to  a  motion  which  had  been 
made  about  the  claims  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton.  A  reply  was  soon  after 
sent  to  the  effect,  that  the  grant  of  Connecticut  to  certain  nobles  and  gen- 
tlemen was  made  long  prior  to  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton's  ;  that  it  had  been 
with  great  difficulty  that  the  planters  of  Connecticut  had  subdued  the 
Indians,  spread  over  the  tract  of  country  they  claimed  ;  "  &  that  was  little 
compensation  for  the  blood  &  treasures  they  had  expended  in  consequence 
of  it,  &  defending  it  in  his  Majest'e's  interests  against  the  Dutch  &  other 
foreigners  ;  that  they  had  with  great  labor  &  expense  cultivated  the  lands 
to  their  own  &  his  Majesties  interests  ;  &  that  his  Majesty,  of  his  grace, 
had  been  pleased  to  confirm  it  to  them  by  his  royal  charter,  in  which  these 
reasons  had  been  recognized." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  Fairfield  on  the  2gth  of  April  it  was  voted, 
"  That  upon  Wednesdays  every  fortnight  after  the  conference  meetings, 
there  shall  be  a  townsmen's  meeting  for  the  attentions  of  the  town's  occa- 
sions." 

At  the  election  in  May,  Lieutenant  Gold  was  elected  an  assistant  of  the 
General  Court,  and  John  Banks  and  Thomas  Pell,  deputies  from  Fairfield 
Several  magistrates  were  chosen  from  New  Haven,  and  deputies  from  each 
of  the  towns  formerly  within  that  jurisdiction  were  present.  Richard 
Laws  was  made  a  magistrate  for  the  towns  of  Stamford,  Greenwich  and 
Rye,  "  &  also  to  assist  in  the  execution  of  justice  in  the  courts  of  Fairfield 
&  Stratford."  The  villages  of  Hastings  and  Rye  were  united  in  one  planta- 
tion ;  and  Lieutenant  Gold,  and  John  Banks  were  appointed  with  Mr.  Laws, 
to  settle  whatever  disputes  existed  between  the  two  places,  and  to  run  the 
boundary  line  between  Stamford  and  Greenwich.*  The  second  Wednesday 
in  June  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  the  colony.  A  gen- 
eral session  of  the  Assembly  was  held  on  the  6th  of  July,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration such  active  measures  as  were  necessary  for  a  threatened  invasion 
by  the  Dutch.  War  had  been  declared  between  England  and  Holland, 
and  Admiral  DC  Ruytcr  with  a  large  force  had  been  ordered  to  New  York. 
The  king  had  warned  his  subjects  in  the  colonies  to  place  themselves  in  a 
posture  of  defense.  Committees  were  appointed  in  each  town  to  guard 
the  coast  and  to  give  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant 

*  The  villages  of  Rye  and  Hastings  remained  within  the  Connecticut  colony  limits  until  1683, 
wfcen,  by  the  terms  of  agreement  between  the  agents  of  the  two  colonies  for  the  determination  of 
their  bounds,  a  new  line  was  established,  and  Rye  was  annexed  to  New  York. 


!665]  PROGRESS  OF  FAIRFIELD  129 

Gold,  Assistants  Sherman,  Camfield,  Judson,  Laws,  and  Lieutenant  Olrn- 
stead,  or  any  three  of  them,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  guard  the 
towns  from  Stratford  to  Rye,  and  to  order  the  best  way  for  relief  in  case 
of  an  attack.  Happily,  De  Ruyter  was  needed  at  home,  consequently  the 
colonies  and  the  Duke  of  York's  commissioners  were  not  molested. 

The  keys  of  the  town  pound  were  given  to  Henry  Lyon  ;  and  if  any 
persons  did  not  redeem  their  cattle  from  the  pound  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  being  notified,  the  marshal  was  ordered  to  make  sale  of  some 
part  of  the  creatures  at  an  outcry,  twenty  men  at  least  being  present.  The 
overplus  of  the  poundage  was  to  be  paid  to  the  owner.  On  the  3Oth  of 
September  the  townsmen  ordered  that  the  meadows  should  be  sown  with 
English  grass-seed. 

The  choice  of  a  new  minister  at  Fairfield  was  happily  made  on  the  3Oth 
of  September,  at  which  time  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  was  elected  "  by 
a  free  vote"  of  the  townsmen,  "to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  a  pastor." 
It  was  also  voted :  "  He  is  to  make  use  of  the  parsonage  land  while  he 
teacheth,  &  is  a  pastor  among  us."  No  mention  is  made  in  the  town 
records  of  Mr.  Wakeman  having  been  the  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones, 
but  he  undoubtedly  occupied  that  position.  He  had  not  long  been  estab- 
lished in  his  ministerial  office,  before  he  was  called  upon  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  questions  of  church  discipline.  One  of  the  chief  difficulties 
with  which  our  ancestors  were  obliged  to  contend,  was  the  confusion  of 
church  with  state  affairs,  by  which  the  chief  magistrates  of  the  General 
Court  and  of  the  towns,  undertook  to  make  laws  for  the  government  of  the 
churches,  whereby  a  strange  intermingling  of  ecclesiastical  and  civil  affairs 
was  brought  about.  In  order  to  settle  the  various  questions  which  had 
arisen  in  regard  to  church  membership,  baptism,  etc.,  the  General  Court  in 
October  of  the  following  year,  ordered  that  a  synod  should  be  called  to 
consider  and  debate  these  matters,  and  that  the  questions  to  be  presented 
to  the  elders  and  ministers  should  "  be  publicly  disputed  to  an  issue." 
Both  the  General  Courts  and  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies, 
advised  a  council  of  ministers  and  teaching  elders  from  all  the  towns  in  the 
New  England  colonies.  The  ministers  of  Connecticut,  however,  were 
opposed  to  such  a  council,  and  consequently  it  did  not  take  place  at  this 
time. 

In  the  month  of  October  the  General  Assembly  ordered  that  the 
county  courts  should  be  held  at  New  Haven,  the  first  on  the  second 
Tuesday  in  June,  the  other  on  the  third  Thursday  in  November,  which 
courts  were  to  consist  of  "  not  less  than  two  Assistants  with  two  or  moTe 
Commissioners,  or  five  judges  at  least,  for  the  trial  of  all  cases,  except  limb 
9 


130  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1665 

or  banishment."  Thus  the  first  county  courts  were  established.*  Every 
town  was  ordered  to  have  a  town-brand,  and  a  person  appointed  to  mark 
horses  and  enter  them  on  the  records,  with  their  color  and  age.  The 
brands  were  to  be  in  letters  on  the  near  shoulder.  The  letter  F  was  made 
the  Fairfield  mark.  A  penalty  of  2os.  for  any  horse  sold  without  due 
attention  to  this  order  was  required.  The  list  of  estates  at  Fairfield  this 
year  were  valued  at  ,£11,253,  12S-  Two  superior  courts  or  courts  of 
assistants,  consisting  of  seven  judges  at  least,  were  ordered  to  be  held 
yearly  at  Hartford,  the  first  on  Tuesday  before  the  General  Assembly  in 
May,  and  the  other  on  Tuesday  before  the  October  Assembly,  to  which 
court  the  county  courts  might  appeal  in  cases  of  capital  crime,  "  respect- 
ing life,  limb  or  banishment."  All  appeals  to  the  court  of  assistants  were 
to  be  tried  before  a  jury,  if  the  case  required.  Instead  of  the  four  quarterly 
courts  held  at  Hartford,  tv  o  county  courts  were  ordered  to  be  held  in 
March  and  September  as  formerly.  The  last  Wednesday  in  November 
was  appointed  a  thanksgiving  day  in  all  the  towns  "  to  return  praise  to 
God  for  his  great  mercy  to  us,  for  the  continuance  of  our  liberties  &  privi- 
leges both  Civil  &  Ecclesiastical ;  &  for  our  peace,  &  preventing  those 
troubles  that  we  feared  by  foreign  enemies  ;  &  for  the  blessings  of  the  fruit 
of  the  earth  &  the  general  health  in  the  plantations." 

All  the  towns  in  Connecticut  had  at  this  time  every  reason  to  rejoice 
for  the  many  blessings  bestowed  upon  them.  The  conservative  course 
begun  by  Roger  Ludlow  and  his  associates  in  the  first  planting  of  the 
colony,  and  the  liberal  spirit  of  the  constitution,  both  in  civil  and  ecclesi- 
astical affairs,  especially  in  the  freedom  of  its  civil  franchise,  had  placed  the 
colony  far  in  advance  of  its  sister  colonies,  and  obtained  for  it  the  favor  of 
the  king,  as  well  as  of  his  Majesty's  commissioners. 

Soon  after  Colonel  Nichols  had  been  made  governor  of  New  York,  Sir 
Robert  Carr,  George  Cartright  and  Samuel  Maverick  went  to  Boston,  and 
at  once  entered  upon  the  business  assigned  them,  of  examining  the  validity 
of  the  English  claims.  In  Massachusetts  they  went  so  far  as  to  interfere 
with  the  established  laws,  especially  in  regard  to  their  civil  franchise,  and  to 
dictate  that  all  men  of  a  good  and  honest  conversation,  should  be  allowed 
the  liberties  of  freemen  without  being  church  members. 

Massachusetts  resented  the  course  of  the  king's  commissioners,  and 
while  their  chief  ministers  and  magistrates  expressed  their  loyalty  to  the 
king,  they  tenaciously  adhered  to  their  charter  privileges.  Highly  indig- 
nant at  this  opposition,  the  royal  commissioners  made  a  very  unfavorable 
report  of  their  mode  of  government.  An  address  which  had  been  pre- 

*  Conn.  Col.   Rec.,  I.,  25. 


166s]  PROGRESS  OF  FAIRFIELD  131 

pared  by  Governor  Winthrop  and  Secretary  David  Clark,  and  which  was 
ordered  in  October  to  be  presented  to  the  king  by  Secretary  Bennet  (then 
secretary  of  state  and  afterwards  Lord  Arlington),  in  regard  to  the  claims 
of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Hamilton,  was  most  graciously  received.  On 
the  loth  of  April  a  letter  was  dispatched  to  the  governor  and  council  of 
the  colony  of  Connecticut,  wherein  the  gracious  manner  in  which  the 
king's  commissioners  had  been  received  by  them  was  acknowledged,  and 
"the  dutifulness  &  obedience  of  the  colony  highly  commended,"  inas- 
much as  it  seemed  "to  be  set  off  with  more  luster  by  the  contrary  deport- 
ment of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts,  as  if  by  their  refractoriness  they  have 
designed  to  recommend  &  heighten  the  merits  of  your  compliance  with 
our  directions,  for  the  peaceable  &  good  government  of  our  subjects  in 
those  parts ;  you  may  therefore  assure  yourselves  that  we  shall  never  be 
unmindful  of  your  loyal  &  dutiful  behaviour;  but  shall  upon  all  occasions, 
take  notice  of  it  to  your  advantage,  promising  you  our  constant  protec- 
tion &  royal  favor,  in  all  things  that  may  concern  your  safety,  peace  & 
welfare." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  at  Fairfield  on  the  i$th  of  December,  John 
Banks  was  appointed  "to  make  diligent  inquiry  in  regard  to  those  persons 
who  entertained  strangers  without  the  consent  of  the  town."  All  the 
common  swamps  and  lands,  large  highways  excepted,  were  ordered  to  be 
sold  by  John  Banks,  the  treasurer,  in  parcels,  at  an  outcry  the  first  Monday 
of  the  next  April.  Cornelius  Hull  was  "  granted  liberty  to  change  the 
land  for  his  hop  garden,  for  any  other  place  upon  the  Aspetuck  river  in 
like  quantity."  Liberty  was  granted  for  any  one  to  erect  a  fulling  mill  in 
the  town.  Peter  Coley  was  chosen  to  seal  the  weights  and  measures,  and 
to  be  a  sworn  packer  of  meats.  Lieutenant  Gold,  John  Banks  and  Wil- 
liam Hill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  meet  with  the  farmers  of  Maxu- 
mux,  "  to  treat  with  them  concerning  what  relation  they  stand  to  us,  & 
what  the  said  committee  shall  do  in  the  premises  the  town  will  stand 
to." 

The  Bankside  farmers  had  asserted  their  independence,  and  in  defiance 
of  the  efforts  of  the  townsmen  to  include  them  within  their  limits,  they 
assumed  their  rights  on  the  strength  of  their  first  purchase  of  the  Maxu- 
mux  lands  of  the  Indians.  They  had  fenced  in  a  large  meadow  north  of 
Sherwood's  island  and  Gallop's  gap,  called  the  horse  pasture.  A  herds- 
man was  always  on  watch  to  care  for  both  horses,  cattle  and  sheep.  There 
was  still  another  meadow  called  Plaistead's  meadow,  which  came  to  be 
disputed  between  the  farmers  and  the  town,  afterwards  called  the  Gained 
meadow.  Cornelius  Hull  was  appointed  an  agent  and  attorney  for  money 


132  HISTORY  OF  FAIRFIELD  [1666 

due  the  town  from  the  planters  for  grass-seed,  which  had  been  sold  them 
by  Mr.  Burr,  for  sowing  the  common  meadows. 

At  the  court  of  election  in  May,  Nathan  Gold  was  made  an  assistant 
of  the  General  Assembly,  John  Burr  and  John  Banks,  deputies,  and 
William  Hill  and  John  Banks,  commissioners  for  Fairfield.*  About  this 
time  Nathan  Gold  received  the  title  of  Major. 

John  Banks  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to  examine  the  value  of  a 
tract  of  land,  which  the  Indian  sachem  Tauntonimo  had  sold  to  Richard 
Baldwin,  of  Milford  ;  and  also  to  report  to  the  Assembly  "if  the  land  at 
Paugussett  was  fit  for  a  township." 

Any  two  assistants  or  commissioners  were  given  liberty  to  administer 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  king,  in  their  respective  towns,  and  to  such  of 
the  neighboring  towns  as  had  no  assistants.  If  any  refused  to  take  this 
oath,  their  names  were  to  be  presented  to  the  next  General  Assembly. 
Major  Gold,  in  his  office  of  assistant,  with  Assistant  Sherman,  of  Strat- 
ford, was  appointed  to  administer  this  oath  at  Fairfield.  The  commis- 
sioners were  invested  with  the  same  power  as  the  assistants,  within  the 
limits  of  the  towns  in  which  they  lived.  It  was  ordered  "that  the  terri- 
tory lying  between  the  east  bounds  of  Stratford  to  the  west  bounds  of 
Rye,  should  be  called  the  County  of  Fairfield;  &  that  the  County  Court 
should  be  held  at  Fairfield,  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  March,  &  the  first 
Tuesday  in  November  yearly.  Each  County  Court  was  to  consist  of  at 
least  one  Assistant  &  two  Commissioners  to  act  as  judges."  Three 
assistants  might  act  as  judges  in  case  the  commissioners  neglected  their 
duty.  A  special  court  could  be  called  by  the  assistants  or  commissioners 
in  extraordinary  cases,  provided  it  was  no  expense  to  the  colony. 

Attachments  on  property  for  debt  were  not  to  be  sold  without  a  hear- 
ing before  the  higher  courts.  Wills  and  inventories  were  to  be  exhibited 
before  the  county  court,  and  the  distribution  of  estates  made  by  the 
same  court,  either  according  to  the  will  or  the  decision  of  the  court.  That 
orphans  might  be  protected  from  injustice  on  the  part  of  those  who  had 
the  care  of  their  property,  all  sales  of  their  houses  or  real  estate  were 
made  null  and  void,  without  the  sanction  of  the  General  Assembly  ;  and  all 
receipts  over  and  above  the  appraisal  value  of  property  were  to  be  paid 
over  to  the  lawful  heirs  at  the  settlement  of  an  estate,  and  the  property,  kept 
in  good  repair  by  those  appointed  as  administrators. f  The  magistrates  of 
the  towns  were  instructed  to  agree  upon  some  effectual  course  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  contagious  diseases  from  vessels  coming  into  port.  Persons  who 
attempted  to  vote  at  the  annual  elections,  who  had  not  been  made  freemen 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  31.  f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  39- 


1666]  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  133 

of  the  colony,  were  "  fined  five  pounds  for  each  transgression."     William 
Hill  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  county  court  of  Fairfield. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  town  to  settle  with  the  Bankside 
farmers,  entered  into  a  final  agreement  with  them.  This  was  the  second 
agreement  made  with  the  town,  and  was  as  follows : 

"  Articles  of  Agreement  between  Nathan  Gold,  John  Banks,  John  Burr,  Cor.  Hull  & 
William  tiill,  on  behalf  of  the  town  of  Fairfield,  of  the  one  party,  &  the  farmers  at  Maxa- 
mus,  alias  called  Bankside  on  the  other  party,  witnesseth  : 

Imprimis.  It  is  agreed  that  the  above  said  farmers  £  the  town  of  Fairfield  shall 
for  the  future  be  one  township.  The  above  said  farmers  do  adjoin  their  mile  as  an  addi- 
tion to  the  bounds  of  the  town  of  Fairfield  ;  £  said  farmers  are  to  be  equal  in  town  privi- 
liges  &  charges,  according  to  their  proportion,  with  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Fairfield.  The  said  farmers  are  to  be  subject  to  town  orders  about  fencing  or 
whatever  else  shall  be  ordered,  as  any  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Fairfield  are. 

2.  It  is  agreed  that  the  farmers  shall  possess  as  their  propriety  all  such  land  & 
meadows  as  they  have  already  in  fence,  with  all  such  mowable  marsh  as  lieth  without 
fence,  as  is  on  the  east  side  pf  Compo  creek,  leading  up  to  Muddy  river,  which  they  have 
now  in  their  possession.  3.  That  if  said  farmers  desire  it,  there  shall  be  laid  forth  to  each 
farmer,  in  some  convenient  place,  fifteen  acres  of  upland  for  their  use  &  propriety.  4. 
It  is  agreed  that  John  Green  shall  enjoy  freely  five  acres  he  possesseth  on  the  west  side 
of  Compo  creek,  to  be  to  him  &  his  heirs  forever,  if  the  town  see  good  to  grant  it.  5.  It 
is  agreed  that  there  shall  be  maintained  out  of  the  town  treasury,  a  sufficient  foot-bridge 
over  Sasco  &  the  Mill  rivers.  6  It  is  agreed  that  the  farmers  shall  appoint  at  some 
inhabitant's  house  within  half  a  mile  of  the  meeting-house,  where  notices  shall  be  left 
of  any  town  meeting  which  shall  be  to  them  a  sufficient  warning.  7.  It  is  agreed  that  such 
agreement  as  said  farmers  have  already  entered  into  about  a  bridge  over  Gallup's  Gap 
going  to  their  lands,  shall  be  abiding  as  formerly,  each  with  the  other,  notwithstanding 
the  above  agreement  of  the  farmers  with  the  town.  8.  It  is  agreed  that  such  Indian 
deeds,  whether  by  gift  or  purchase,  shall  be  surrendered  up  to  the  town  upon  considera- 
tion of  the  premises  by  the  farmers.  9.  It  is  agreed  that  the  farmers'  west  bridge  near 
their  houses,  which  now  lieth  over  the  creek,  shall  for  the  future  be  maintained  out  of  the 
town  treasury.  The  farmers  with  cows  are  not  to  pay  to  the  town  herd.  10.  It  is  agreed 
that  the  true  meaning  of  the  above  said  third  article  concerning  the  grant  of  more  land, 
doth  only  respect  the  five  first  farmers  that  settled  there,  viz.  :  Thomas  Newton,  Daniel 
Frost,  Henry  Gray,  John  Green  £  Francis  Andrews,  n.  It  is  agreed  that  the  farmers' 
grant  unto  Robt.  Beacham  of  two  acres  of  land,  which  now  lieth  within  fence,  shall 
remain  good  £  valid  to  the  true  performance.  All  the  above  said  parties  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  this  2Qth  day  of  June,  1666.* 

Daniel  Frost. 
John   Green. 
Simon  Couch. 
Henry  F.  Smith." 

Francis  Andrews  having  died  before  this  agreement  was   made,  he  is 
*  State  Archives,  Hartford,  Conn.,  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  22. 


134  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1666 

represented  by  his  son  Daniel  Frost  and  his  son-in-law  Simon  Crouch  or 
Couch,  and  Henry  F.  Smith.  Josiah  Harvey  was  granted  from  the  town 
three  hundred  acres  of  land  above  the  Mill  river.  One  Mr.  Blacklidge 
"  was  ordered  to  leave  the  town  &  not  take  up  his  residence  here." 
Any  one  who  killed  a  bear  between  this  and  the  next  town  meeting,  was 
to  receive  "  fifty  shillings  for  each  old  bear,  &  for  each  cub  twenty  shil- 
lings." An  extra  session  of  the  General  Assembly  met  at  Hartford  on 
the  26th  of  July,  to  make  preparations  for  the  reduction  of  the  French 
and  Dutch  in  America,  especially  the  French  in  Canada.  King  Charles 
had  declared  war  against  the  Dutch  on  the  25th  of  February,  1665.  This 
war  had  grown  out  of  the  jealously  which  the  English  entertained  towards 
Holland,  for,  in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  which  had  been  made  to  "  extend 
their  trade,  they  had  been  baffled  by  their  vigilant  rivals  to  their  loss 
&  dishonor."  The  Dutch  had  also  made  settlement  at  New  Africa,  from 
whence  the  first  guineas  coined  in  England  were  made. 

A  fleet  of  ninety-eight  sail  was  fitted  out,  and  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  Duke  of  York,  and  under  him  by  Prince  Rupert  and  the  Earl 
of  Sandwich.  A  battle  took  place  June  3d  off  the  coast  of  Suffolk,  when 
the  Dutch  were  vanquished,  with  the  loss  of  nineteen  ships  sunk  and 
taken,  while  the  English  lost  but  one  ship.  This  victory  so  alarmed  Louis 
XIV.,  lest  the  English  should  gain  control  over  the  sea,  both  in  naval  and 
commercial  interests,  that  he  resolved  to  assist  the  Dutch,  and  declared 
war  against  England  January  16  (1666).  He  was  soon  after  joined  by 
the  King  of  Denmark.  This  league  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  Triple 
Alliance.  On  the  i8th  of  the  following  month,  the  governor  and  council 
of  Connecticut  received  a  letter  from  the  king,  with  orders  to  supply 
themselves  with  "  ships  &  land  forces,  to  subdue  their  troublesome  neigh- 
bors." Forty  horsemen  were  ordered  to  be  sent  immediately  to  Spring- 
field, to  accompany  the  troops  to  be  sent  by  Captain  Pinchion  to  Fort 
Albany.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  Major  Gold,  to 
require  him  to  accept  of  a  commission  to  the  office  the  colony  had  chosen 
him  to  fill. 

A  committee  to  conduct  necessary  measures  to  carry  on  the  war  was 
appointed.  Every  town  was  ordered  to  place  the  militia  and  seamen 
in  proper  order,  for  an  offensive  and  defensive  war.  Strict  orders  were 
issued  against  firing  off  guns  in  the  towns,  save  upon  the  approach  of 
enemies,  under  a  fine  of  five  pounds,  or  two  months'  imprisonment. 
Every  soldier,  upon  an  alarm  of  danger,  was  ordered  to  repair  with  alacrity 
to  the  place  appointed  by  the  chief  officers  for  meeting,  under  a  penalty 
of  five  pounds,  imprisonment  or  corporal  punishment,  unless  good  reason 


16661  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  135 

of  inabilty  to  attend  was  given.  The  king's  letter  to  the  governor  and 
council  of  the  colony  was  read  before  the  Assembly  on  the  3ist  of  July. 
It  was  voted  that  the  governor  and  deputy  governor  should  enlist  the 
Indians  to  assist  in  case  of  an  invasion.  The  pike  bearers  of  the  train- 
bands in  the  plantations,  were  ordered  to  supply  themselves  "  with  pikes, 
not  less  than  fourteen  foot  long,  well  headed  with  iron."  The  selectmen 
were  ordered  to  purchase  poles  and  fit  them  up  for  the  use  of  the  militia 
"  as  town  stock."  Out  of  every  hundred  soldiers,  twenty  pikes  were 
to  be  kept  in  readiness,  and  to  be  prepared  as  speedily  as  possible.  The 
destruction  made  by  this  war,  combined  with  the  dreadful  plague,  and  the 
great  fire  which  visited  London  this  year,*  were  looked  upon  as  judgments 
from  heaven,  and  led  the  king  and  his  cabinet  to  make  overtures  of  peace, 
which  was  effected  at  Breda  in  May,  1677^  Thus  the  towns  in  the 
colony  were  saved  a  few  years  longer  from  the  calamities  of  a  war  with  the 
French  and  Indians.  In  August  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield  voted  that  any 
one  who  left  the  gates  open  which  guarded  the  common  fields,  if  they 
were  capable  of  being  shut,  should  be  fined  five  shillings.  Thomas  Oliver 
and  others,  who  had  been  engaged  in  building  a  bridge  over  the  Uncowa 
river,  were  desired  to  finish  it  on  their  own  account ;  but  if  in  the  future 
the  town  should  see  fit  to  have  bars,  or  a  gate,  for  the  safety  of  cattle  it 
should  be  paid  for  out  of  the  treasury.  A  horse-bridge  was  ordered  to  be 
made  over  the  mouth  of  Sasco  creek. 

The  list  of  estates  in  Fairfield  this  year  were  estimated  at  £11,149. 
Cornelius  Hull  having  been  appointed  attorney  to  represent  the  western 
claims  of  the  town,  it  was  decided,  that  if  upon  evidence  Fairfield  had  been 
granted  seven  miles  from  the  west  bounds  of  Stratford,  that  Norwalk 
should  be  paid  a  reasonable  consideration  for  the  money  which  that 
plantation  had  paid  to  the  Indians  for  lands  claimed  by  the  Fairfield 
planters.  Assistant  Samuel  Sherman,  Mr.  Fairchild  and  Ensign  Judson 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  what  was  equitable  and  reason- 
able for  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  to  pay  to  the  town  of  Norwalk.  They 
were  also  to  examine  the  quality  of  the  land  twelve  miles  northward 
between  the  two  towns.  Ensign  Judson,  John  Banks  and  Lieutenant 
Olmstead  were  appointed  to  run  the  division  line. 

This    decision   of    the  Assembly  by   no   means    pleased    the    Fairfield 

*  "  In  July,  1666,  the  weekly  deaths  in  London  were  1,100  ;  they  increased  to  10,000  a  week  in 
September,  &  not  less  that  100,000  persons  were  computed  to  have  perished  in  the  course  of  the 
year.  The  fire  extended  over  436  acres." — Hume. 

f  "  By  this  treaty  England  gained  New  York  ;  &  Nova  Scotia  was  given  up  to  the  French 
for  Antigua,  Monserrat,  £  St.  Kitts." — Hume. 


136  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1667 

planters,  who  still  continued  to  extend  their  limits  to  the  Saugatuck 
River.  The  last  day  of  October  was  appointed  a  public  thanksgiving 
*'  to  return  praise  to  God  for  his  great  mercy  in  the  continuation  of  our 
liberties  &  privileges,  both  civil  &  ecclesiastical  ;  &  for  our  peace  ;  &  pre- 
venting the  troubles  we  feared  from  foreign  enemies;  &  for  his  blessing  in 
in  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ;  &  the  general  health  continued  in  the  plan- 
tations." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  March,  the  sojourning  of  strangers  in  Fair- 
field  was  made  a  matter  of  serious  consideration.  It  was  voted,  "  that 
John  Thorp  should  not  be  entertained  in  the  town,  under  the  penalty  of 
the  law,  in  such  cases."  Goodman  Lyon  was  also  desired  to  leave  the  town, 
"  &  speedily  to  provide  for  himself."  John  Burr  and  John  Green  were 
appointed  to  call  a  committee,  to  run  the  division  line  between  Fairfield 
and  Norwalk,  and  to  examine  the  country  above  the  town.  Henry  Jack- 
son was  given  liberty  to  erect  a  mill  on  the  Uncoa  stream,  if  completed 
within  two  years.  Sergeant  George  Squire  and  Joseph  Middlebrook  were 
appointed  to  measure  out  each  man's  land  who  wished  fences  in  the  great 
meadow,  on  either  side  of  the  creek  ;  and  to  sell  at  an  outcry  the  lands 
on  the  other  side  of  the  creek  or  Uncoa  neck,  according  to  the  rules  of 
fencing. 

Nathaniel  Seeley  purchased  this  year  of  an  Indian  named  Crocecrow,  a 
large  track  of  land  lying  between  the  Saugatuck  and  Aspetuck  rivers.* 

At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  elected  one  of  the  assistant  judges 
of  the  General  Assembly,  and  Cornelius  Hull  and  William  Hill  deputies. 
William  Hill  was  also  made  a  commissioner.  The  town  of  Fairfield  was 
recommended  to  settle  upon  the  Bankside  farmers  and  their  heirs,  by 
a  firm  record,  the  lands  which  they  had  improved.  The  estates  of  commis- 
sioners were  freed  from  public  taxes.  There  being  but  one  prison  at 
Hartford,  each  county  town  was  ordered  to  erect  a  prison  or  house  of  cor- 
rection ;  and  that  this  order  might  be  speedily  carried  out  by  the  first  of 
December,  twelve  pounds  was  granted  to  each  county  for  prisons  built 
before  that  time.  In  case  this  order  was  neglected,  a  fine  of  twenty 
pounds  was  to  be  paid  by  the  county  to  the  colony  treasury. 

It  was  ordered  that  a  grand  jury  of  twelve  able  men,  at  least,  should 
be  warned  to  appear  at  the  county  courts  yearly,  viz. :  at  Hartford  on  the 
first  Thursday  in  March,  at  New  London  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  June, 
at  New  Haven  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  June,  and  at  Fairfield  on  the 
second  Tuesday  in  March,  or  oftener  if  required.  Mathew  Camfield  was 
made, a  commissioner  for  Norwalk,  and  to  assist  in  the  execution  of  justice 

*  Fairfield  Town  Rec.,  Book  A,  page  494. 


X66;]  PROGRESS    OF   FAIRFIELD  137 

at  the  county  court  of  Fairfield.  A  complaint  having  been  made  that 
divers  persons  had  thrust  themselves  into  the  several  towns  in  the  colony 
without  liberty,  it  was  ordered  that  any  person  who  presumed  to  remain 
in  any  town  in  the  colony,  after  he  had  been  warned  to  leave,  should  pay 
a  fine  of  2Os.  a  week  to  the  town  treasury  ;  "  and  in  default  of  payment  to  sit 
in  the  stocks  for  one  hour,  or  else  be  corporally  punished."'  Owing  to 
neglect  of  proper  care  in  recording  grants,  sales,  and  exchange  of  lands,  it 
became  necessary  for  some  regulation  to  be  made  by  law,  whereby  the 
owners  of  houses  and  lands  might  legally  claim  them  under  the  new 
charter;  consequently  the  Assembly  passed  an  act,  that  any  person  who 
owned  one  or  more  dwellings,  and  large  or  small  parcels  of  land,  without 
being  interrupted  by  law  within  the  space  of  twelve  months  and  a  day, 
after  the  publication  of  this  act,  should  have  full  power  to  record  and 
receive  a  record  of  the  same  as  his  own,  from  the  town  clerk,  witnessed  by 
one  of  the  selectmen  and  an  assistant  or  a  commissioner.  This  act  was 
not  to  be  binding  upon  "  orphans  under  age,  or  persons  in  foreign  parts." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  at  Fairfield,  July  8th,  it  was  voted  that  there 
should  be  thirty  half-pikes  and  twenty  large  pikes,  to  belong  to  the  town 
magazine,  at  the  disposal  of  the  military  officers  of  the  town.  The  treas- 
urer John  Burr  was  ordered  "  to  care  that  the  pikes  were  well  headed 
with  iron  ;  &  to  pay  the  workmen  who  made  them  out  of  the  town  grass," 
according  to  his  judgment.  At  a  town  meeting,  September  3 1st,  John 
Banks  and  William  Hill  were  appointed  to  survey  the  Maxumux  farms. 
In  October  the  town  list  of  estates  was  valued  at  ^10,637,  8s.  The  Gen- 
eral Assembly  granted  Major  Gold  three  hundred  acres  of  land  for  a  farm, 
forty  acres  of  which  was  to  be  meadow  land,  if  as  much  could  be  found, 
provided  it  did  not  interfere  with  any  previous  grant,  or  be  injurious  to 
any  plantation.  A  penny  half-penny  on  a  pound  was  levied  to  defray  the 
colony  expenses.  The  county  courts  were  given  liberty  to  choose  their 
own  clerks.  To  prevent  advantage  being  taken  of  persons  by  a  sudden 
subpoena  to  attend  the  particular  court,  five  days'  notice  was  ordered  to 
be  served  on  the  defendant.  The  expense  of  sustaining  a  large  company 
of  dragoons  resulted  in  disbanding  them  in  general,  and  a  vote  was  passed 
that  they  should  join  the  foot  company  ;  but  their  pikes,  belts,  and 
pouches  were  to  be  safely  preserved  by  the  selectmen,  in  case  they  should 
be  needed  for  public  use.  In  case  of  war,  each  county  was  given  authority 
to  raise  troops  or  dragoons,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  county  taxe?.  Fairfield, 
New  Haven,  and  New  London  were  given  liberty  to  raise  a  standing  body 
of  dragoons  of  about  forty  horsemen,  for  their  defense. 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  U.,66. 


138  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1668 

In  1667  the  demand  for  a  general  synod  of  ministers  resulted  in  the 
General  Court  changing  the  name  of  synod  to  that  of  An  Assembly  of  the 
Ministers.  This  was  done  to  pacify  those  ministers,  who  objected  to  such 
a  council  being  called  a  synod.  On  the  i6th  of  May  following,  the  Gen- 
eral Court  ordered  that  the  Reverends  James  Fitch,  Gershom  Bulkley, 
Joseph  Eliot,  and  Samuel  Wakeman  should  meet  at  Saybrook  or  Norwich, 
and  consider  some  way  whereby  the  religious  questions  in  dispute  should 
be  settled.  This  step  was  hailed  by  many  with  great  satisfaction,  as  it 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  effort  made,  which  promised  the  establish- 
ment of  a  religious  constitution  ;  several  years  elapsed,  however,  before  this 
desired  end  was  accomplished,  although  many  longed  and  struggled  for 
its  successful  issue.  The  third  Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  a 
day  of  public  thanksgiving  for  the  blessing  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  peace, 
for  the  continuance  of  the  liberties  of  the  people,  peace  from  dreaded 
foreign  foes,  for  blessings  on  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  for  the  continua- 
tion of  health  in  the  plantations. 

At  a  town  meeting  December  2,  Jehu  and  John  Burr,  and  John  Green 
were  appointed  to  run  the  boundary  line  between  Fairficld  and  Stratford 
forthwith  ;  and  to  lay  out  a  parsonage  lot  in  Uncoa  neck.  Complaint 
being  made  that  the  lands  at  Mill  plain  had  not  been  justly  laid  out,  and 
that  the  highways  had  not  been  kept  up  ;  Jehu  Burr,  John  Wheeler  and 
William  Hill  were  appointed  "  to  settle  the  bounds  &  lay  out  highways."* 
Samuel  Smith  was  given  liberty  to  settle  in  the  town,  until  the  29th  of 
September  next,  when  he  was  to  "depart  the  town  or  submit  to  law." 
Samuel  Davis  and  his  heirs  were  bound  in  the  sum  of  five  pounds,  to 
depart  the  town  by  Michaelmas  next.  John  Camp  was  bound  in  the  same 
way.  Jonathan  Miles  was  bound  in  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds,  unless 
he  had  further  permission  to  remain. 

On  the  28th  of  April  the  town  voted  that  Jehu  Burr,  John  Wheeler 
and  William  Hill,  should  survey  the  land  between  Mill  river  and  the 
Maxumux  farmers.  Also  a  highway  was  ordered  to  be  laid  out  between  the 
meadows  of  John  Green  and  John  Burr  on  Mill  river,  and  Samuel  Ward's 
and  the  commons.  Thomas  Staples  and  John  Green  were  to  agree  with 
them  for  a  highway  over  the  river.  On  the  1st  of  February,  the  salt  marsh 
at  the  Horse-tavern,  below  the  path  and  pond  and  swamp  that  lies  in  Sasco 
field,  was  granted  for  the  encouragement  of  a  school. f  John  Thorp,  who 
was  ordered  in  1667  to  leave  the  town  without  delay,  was  at  this  meeting 

*  B,   Town  Votes,  pp.  26,  27. 

f  This  school-lot  is  said  to  have  been  between  the  south-west  corner  lot  opposite  the  resi- 
dence of  the  late  Frederick  Marquand  and  the  brook  called  the  Horse-tavern. 


I668J  PROGRESS   OF   FAIRFIELD  139 

admitted  as  an  inhabitant,  and  granted  the  use  of  two  acres  of  land  to 
to  improve  for  seven  years.  A  vote  to  leave  the  town  did  not  necessarily 
imply  a  want  of  good  character,  but  it  was  done  to  give  time  to  ascertain 
whether  strangers  who  appeared  among  them,  were  worthy  to  be  made 
members  of  the  community.  The  townsmen  expressed  their  disapproval 
of  the  suit  brought  by  Simon  Couch  and  John  Andrews,  as  heirs  of 
Francis  Andrews,  in  claiming  their  rights  in  his  Bankside  land,  by  voting 
that  "they  should  not  be  accepted  as  inhabitants  of  the  town."  The 
right,  however,  of  this  injustice  prevailed  in  the  course  of  time.'* 

Henry  Jackson,  Lieutenant  John  Squire,  Cornelius  Hull,  John  Wheeler 
and  John  Burr,  were  appointed  a  committee,  to  lay  out  the  dividend  of 
land  at  Greenlea,  between  the  highway  and  commons  and  their  property,  f 
At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  elected  an  assistant  of  the  General 
Assembly,  William  Hill  and  Jehu  Burr  deputies  and  commissioners  for 
Fairfield.:}:  John  Barlow,  John  Sturge  (Sturgis),  John  Hide,  Dan".  Burr, 
Wm.  Ward,  Andr.  Ward,  Sam1.  Ward,  John  Bulkley,  Thomas  Jones,  James 
Bennet,  Ezekkl  Sanford,  Richard  Ogden,  John  Cable,  jr.,  Benjamin  Tur- 
ney,  Thomas  Oliver  and  Dan1.  Lockwood,  were  propounded  to  be  made 
freemen  from  Fairfield.  A  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed 
on  the  29th  of  May,  "to  entreat  the  Lord  for  the  visitation  of  his  provi- 
dence in  blasting  the  increase  of  the  fields;  spoiling  the  fruit  of  the 
trees;  disunion  in  the  plantations  in  civil  &  ecclesiastical  affairs;  &  to 
implore  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  behalf  of  his  people  in  England  ;  that  He 
would  cause  his  face  to  shine  upon  them  in  the  wilderness  ;  visit  them 
with  mercy  ;  stay  His  hand  ;  establish  peace  &  truth  in  their  habitations ; 
continue  health  among  them  ;  bless  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ;  &  that  He  would 
be  pleased  to  guide  them  in  every  endeavor  to  stablish  peace  &  truth  among 
them."  At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Court,  a  tax  was  ordered  to 
be  laid  upon  the  several  towns,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  their  deputies  in 
attending  the  General  Assembly.  The  Fairfield  deputies  were  allowed  £2, 
i$s.  The  third  Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  a  general  thanks- 
giving for  peace,  health,  etc.  At  a  town  meeting  held  in  October,  1668,  it 
was  voted  to  lay  out  a  new  planting  field,  between  Mill  River  and  the  rear 
of  the  farmers'  home-lots,  to  be  divided'  among  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town,  in  such  proportion  as  the  town  should  agree  upon.  Cornelius  Hull, 
John  Knowles  and  Samuel  Morehouse  were  appointed  to  examine  and 
report  as  to  the  quality  of  the  land. 

*B,  Town  Votes,  p.  30. 

f  Seaside  Park  and  vicinity  at  Bridgeport.     B,  Town  Votes,  p.  23. 

JCOI.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  82,  83. 


140  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1669 

Another  new  planting  field  was  ordered  to  be  laid  between  the  Uncoa 
river  and  the  Stratford  bounds.  Richard  Hubbell,  Humphrey  Hide  and 
John  Sturgis  were  appointed  to  survey  and  report  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  this  land.  Jehu  Burr,  John  Wheeler,  Cornelius  Hull,  Nathan- 
iel Seeley  and  William  Hill  were  appointed  to  lay  out  the  new  planting 
field  on  the  other  side  of  Mill  river,  to  stake  out  for  fencing  each  man's 
land,  and  to  lay  out  highways  in  this  and  the  Uncoa  fields,  according  to 
the  old  rules  of  the  dividends. 

It  was  voted  to  divide  four  hundred  acres  among  the  owners  of  estates. 
The  waste  land  at  the  east  side  of  the  creek,  and  at  the  harbor  and  in 
Uncoa  neck  was  to  be  taken  into  the  division,  but  the  town  sedge  and 
marsh  below  the  path  or  highway  near  the  beach,  were  not  to  be  included. 
Each  man  was  allowed  his  dividend  in  the  rear  of  his  home-lot,  which  the 
committee  were  to  exchange  to  their  satisfaction.  In  case  some  received 
poor  land,  it  was  to  be  exchanged  for  better.* 

A  considerable  tumult  was  raised  at  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  3Oth 
of  January  following,  by  a  vote,  that  only  those  whose  names  were  con- 
tained in  the  October  list  of  estates,  made  by  an  order  of  the  General 
Court  in  May, f  should  share  in  the  land  dividends.  Against  this  vote  John 
Burr  and  William  Ward  protested  ;  when  it  was  voted,  "  that  those  plant- 
ers who  had  sons  of  age  should  have  lands  for  them  only  as  children,"  and 
not  according  to  the  law  of  the  colony,  which  required  that  none  should 
be  made  freemen,  except  such  as  held  an  estate  valued  at  eighteen  pounds. 
Great  dissatisfaction  existed  because  those  who  had  cultivated  the  eight 
years'  lands  at  Sasqua,  were  not  to  be  allowed  to  hold  them  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  on  the  I5th  of  March  it  was  voted  that  no  one  should 
build  upon  the  lots  of  the  new  field  at  Sasco,  or  sell  the  school  lands  with- 
out permission  from  the  town,  under  a  penalty  of  £20.  Goodman  Joseph 
Middlebrook  and  Peter  Newton  were  the  only  dissenting  voices. 

The  first  rules  of  fencing  were  to  be  observed  in  this  new  dividend. 
The  lots  were  to  run  east  from  Frost  point  to  a  gate  to  be  made  over 
Mill  river.  The  hill  in  this  field  on  the  left  "  as  one  goes  towards  the 
farms  commencing  at  the  school  land  "  was  also  to  be  laid  out.  The  com- 
mittee was  to  lay  out  these  lands  under  the  new  arrangement  for  divi- 
dends ;  and  they  were  to  purchase  sufficient  lands  of  the  dividend  hold- 
ers on  the  Sasqua  and  Mill  rivers  for  two  gates  ;  and  also  for  a  sea  fence. 
The  first  tier  of  lots  included  one-third  of  this  dividend.:}: 

*  B,  Fairfield  Town  Votes,  pp.  28,  29. 

t  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II. ,112,  521.     B,  Town  Votes,  p.  30,  31.     Appendix  No.  III. 

\  Appendix  No.  IV. 


1669]  PROGRESS   OF  FA1RFIELD  141 

On  the  8th  of  February  it  was  voted  that  the  remaining  two-thirds  of 
the  dividend  should  be  divided  as  follows : 

"The  town  orders  yl  ye  Lots  to  be  drawn  for  ye  Divison  of  Land  att  Sasqua,  y*  two 
thirds  of  ye  dividends,  ye  Lots  to  begin,  first,  by  Dan"  Frost's  Land,  So  successively,  till 
y*  being  ye  first  tear  be  measured  out,  ye  2d  Tear  to  Lye  on  ye  other  side  of  yc  Swamp  att 
ye  head  of  ye  great  pond  in  Sasco  field,*  being  ye  next  tear  ye  Lots  to  begin  by  ye  high 
way  by  ye  Swamp,  and  so  to  run  till  ye  Comittee  see  Cause  to  begin  to  measure  on 
ye  third  tear  on  ye  north  side  of  ye  Said  Pond,  to  begin  by  y«  high  way  on  ye  Pond,  and  So 
to  run  till  ye  Comittee  Sees  cause  to  Cease  ;  &  ye  4th  tear  to  be  on  this  side  of  Sasco 
Creek  to  yc  South  East  side  of  ye  high  way,  to  begin  by  ye  Southerly  End  of  yc  tear  and 
so  forward  to  ye  Creek  :  ye  5th  tear  to  lye  adjoyning  to  ye  South  East  side  of  Sasco  River, 
to  begin  ye  southerly  side  of  ye  tear  and  onward  ;  and  ye  Comittee  are  to  allow  in 
quantity  where  mens  Lots  fall  in  bad  Land,  according  to  their  discretion. 

And  if  any  Inhabitant  Shall  Refuse  to  fence  for  his  proportion  of  fence  for  his  Land  in 
ye  Said  field,  ye  dividend  of  Land  Shall  revert  to  ye  town  ;  and  such  shall  implead  no 
farther  interest  in  ye  proportion  of  Land  due  in  ye  above  sd  field — those  y'  have 
ye  Eight  years  Land  in  ye  Said  field,  are  to  possess  it  peaceably  till  ye  8  years  be 
Expired."  f 

A  gate  was  ordered  to  be  made,  across  the  Uncoa  neck.  Major  Gold, 
Jehu  Burr  and  William  Hill,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  purchase 
from  the  Indians  all  lands  not  yet  sold  to  the  town  within  its  bounds. 
John  Green  was  granted  i%  acres  of  land,  if  he  ran  a  fence  across  the 
Sasqua  river.  Robert  Rumsey  and  John  Barlow  were  allowed  six  acres 
on  Mill  river  from  the  west  side  of  Sasqua  neck,  provided  they  ran  a  fence 
over  that  river  from  upland  to  upland.  They  were  not  to  build  upon  this 
land  ;  but  each  was  to  maintain  a  good  gate  within  the  line  of  the  public 
fencing.  The  new  dam  and  bridge  over  Pine  creek  having  been  com- 
pleted on  the  5th  of  April,  it  was  ordered,  that  Jehu  Burr  and  Thomas 
Staples  should  lay  out  the  meadow  to  those  to  whom  it  was  due.  Sam- 
uel Morehouse  was  granted  ail  the  common  land  on  the  south-east  of  the 
old  Mill-hill  lot,  near  Concord  field.  Jehu  and  John  Burr  were  granted 
liberty  to  cross  Mill  river  "  with  a  fence  at  two  places  at  the  cartway,  which 
crossed  the  river  at  the  upper  meadow." 

This  was  an  exceedingly  busy  year  at  Fairfield,  but  the  work  of  set- 
tling the  distribution  of  lands  among  the  planters  in  some  definite  man- 
ner was  most  desirable.  They  had  as  yet  no  patent  right  to  these  lands, 
save  that  allowed  in  a  general  way  under  the  charter  of  Charles  II.  They 
hoped  in  time  to  receive  a  town  patent,  which  should  confirm  to  them  their 
possession,  held  under  the  laws  of  the  colony,  which,  in  a  measure,  were 
at  all  times  subject  to  the  caprices  of  the  crown. 

*  Sasco  Lake  Pond.  f  Letter  B,  Town  Votes.     Appendix  III. 


142  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1669 

In  May,  Major  Gold  was  elected  an  assistant,  Mr.  William  Hill  and 
Jehu  Burr  deputies  of  the  General  Assembly  ;  and  William  Hill  and  Jehu 
Burr  commissioners.  Thomas  Jones,  jr.,  Josiah  Harvey,  Richard  Lyon, 
John  Andrews,  Francis  Bradley,  jr.,  John  Tompkins,  and  Joseph  Middle- 
brook,  jr.,  of  Fairfield,  were  made  freemen.  Previous  to  this  year  the 
Bankside  farmers  had  not  been  allowed  any  formal  record  of  their  lands. 
They,  therefore,  petitioned  the  town,  to  grant  them  the  privilege  of 
recording  their  individual  lands.  This  was  granted,  and  they  were 
recorded  on  the  26th  of  May.  On  account  of  several  persons  having 
been  injured  by  "  disorderly  riding  in  the  colony,"  it  was  voted  that  any 
person  or  persons  who  should  ride  through  any  town,  "  except  in  an  ordi- 
nary &  easy  hand  gallop,"  should  pay  a  fine  of  five  shillings.  The  third 
Wednesday  in  June  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  Great 
losses  had  been  sustained  the  previous  year  by  a  blight  which  had  fallen 
upon  fruit  and  grain.  Fears  were  also  entertained,  that  through  the 
king's  sister,  the  Duchess  of  Orleans,  he  would  embrace  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion.  Mercy  in  behalf  of  the  spiritual  liberties  of  his  people 
both  in  England  and  in  the  colony,  was  to  be  another  burden  of  their  sup- 
plications. The  value  of  estates  at  Fairfield  this  year  was  rated  at 
£9,432,  5*. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,*  with  the  ministers  chosen  to  assist  in  set- 
tling the  religious  question  then  in  dispute,  met  at  Saybrook  at  the  time 
appointed  ;  and  at  the  sitting  of  the  General  Court  of  May,  1669,  they 
sent  in  their  report  which  was  read  and  left  on  file.  It  appears  that 
the  congregational  mode  of  government  and  discipline  was  approved  by 
Mr.  Wakeman  and  his  associates,  which  was  confirmed  by  the  General 
Court.  "  But  as  there  were  sundry  persons  of  worth  for  prudence  & 
piety "  in  the  colony,  who  were  otherwise  persuaded,  the  court  ordered, 
"  that  such  persons  being  also  approved,  according  to  law,  as  orthodox 
&  sound  in  the  fundamentals  of  Christian  religion,  may  have  allowance 
of  their  persuasions,  &  profession  in  church  ways  or  assemblies  without 
disturbance." 

Owing  to  a  serious  division  in  the  church  at  Windsor,  as  well  as  a 
strong  opposition  there  to  the  election  and  ordination  of  Mr.  Israel 
Chauncey,the  General  Court  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wakeman  with  other 
ministers  in  the  colony  to  go  to  Windsor,  and,  if  possible,  settle  the 
troubles  in  that  church.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Chauncey  was  approved  by 
Mr.  Wakeman  and  the  ministers  associated  with  him.  The  General  Court 
therefore  rendered  a  decision,  that  as  the  church  of  Windsor  was  not  likely 

•Col.  Rec.   Conn.,  II.,  84. 


!66g]  PROGRESS  OF  FAIRFIELD  143 

to  settle  Mr.  Chauncey,  therefore  all  persons  at  Windsor  should  contri- 
bute to  his  maintenance.  This  was  decidedly  a  strong  step  on  the  part 
of  the  state. 

The  unhappy  dissentions  in  the  churches,  which  were  the  daily 
themes  of  conversation  in  Fairfield,  and,  in  fact,  in  every  town  in  New 
England,  resulted  in  two  general  fasts  within  the  year,  one  in  June  and 
the  first  four  days  in  October. 

An  order  was  issued  that  standard  weights  and  measures  of  brass, 
Winchester  measure,  sealed  with  the  city  seal,  should  be  procured  from 
England,  for  the  use  of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony.  A  tax  of  a  penny 
on  the  pound,  was  levied  for  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  The  second 
Tuesday  in  November,  was  appointed  a  general  day  of  thanksgiving. 

The  blight  upon  the  grain  and  fruit,  which  had  caused  serious  loss 
the  previous  year,  still  continued.  A  spirit  of  variance  in  religious  opin- 
ions rather  increased  than  diminished.  Sickness  prevailed  universally 
in  the  towns.  In  consequence  of  these  afflictions,  the  fourth  day  of 
November  was  set  apart  as  a  day  of  humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer. 


CHAPTER    IV 

1670-1680 

AN    INTERESTING    DECADE 

Social  customs. — Assistant  and  deputies  of  1670. — New  Milford. — Sheep  raising. — Weights  and 
measures. — Minister  at  Rye. — Church  and  School  lands. — Richard  Osborn. — East  and  west 
dividends. — Assistant  and  deputies  of  1672. — Rye  and  Norwalk  committees. — John  Wheeler's 
grant. — War  between  England  and  Holland. — Nathan  Gold  commander-in-chief  of  Fairfield 
county. — Colony  laws. — Grant  of  lands  to  Jehu  Burr  and  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman. — Published 
laws.  —  Postal  route. — News  of  the  English  capture  of  New  Amsterdam. — Action  of  the 
General  Assembly. — Contemplated  reduction  of  the  Dutch. — Weapons  of  warfare. — Town 
improvements.  —Prizes  taken  by  the  Dutch.  —  War  tax.— Vigilance  of  Fairfield. — Peace  between 
England  and  Holland. — Rev.  Eliphalet  Jones  sent  to  Rye. — General  training  at  Fairfield. — 
Overland  mail  between  New  York  and  Boston. — The  Duke  of  York  claims  all  Connecticut. — 
Governor  Andros  in  New  York. — General  fast  in  Connecticut. — Indian  outrages. — Troops 
disbanded. — Acts  for  religious  duties  in  families. — To  Christianize  the  Indians'  marriages. — 
Sabbaths. 

THIRTY  years  having  passed  since  Roger  Ludlow  and  his  associates 
settled  Uncoway,  we  now  find  Fairfield  the  shire-town  of  the  county.  It 
was  large  and  flourishing,  and  in  point  of  influence  second  to  no  other 
town  in  the  colony.  It  was  represented  in  the  General  Assembly  and  the 
court  of  commissioners,  by  men  who  had  been  educated  at  Harvard. 
Every  spring  and  fall  its  inns  and  private  residences  were  crowded  with 
the  ablest  men  in  the  country,  drawn  hither  to  attend  the  county  courts. 
Judges  and  commissioners  from  Long  Island,  and  all  classes  of  people 
from  the  towns  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  from  Milford  to 
Westchester,  Rye  and  Long  Island  made  their  way  here  to  seek  redress  for 
wrongs,  to  contend  for  their  chartered  liberties,  or  to  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  king  and  be  made  freemen.  Stage-coaches  had  not  yet 
become  one  of  the  luxuries  of  New  England  travel ;  and  steam  engines 
and  cars  had  not  entered  the  wildest  imagination.  Vessels  bringing  the 
attendants  of  the  court  across  from  Long  Island,  anchored  in  Black  Rock 
harbor,  the  seaport  of  Fairfield. 

The  town  wore  a  bustling,  cheerful  appearance  on  these  occasions.  A 
liberal  old-time  hospitality  prevailed  among  all  classes.  Dinners,  tea- 
drinkings,  balls  and  parties  were  frequent.  Grave  judges  presided  in  the 
court-room  in  powdered  wigs  and  scholastic  gowns.  With  all  the  efforts 


1670]  AN   INTERESTING  DECADE  145 

made  to  appear  democratic,  an  aristocratic  style  was  the  rule  among  the 
best  families.  Gentlemen  wore  long-waisted,  tight-fitting  coats  with  skirts 
which  reached  to  the  knee,  sparkling  all  the  way  down  the  front  with 
genuine  gold  and  silver  buttons.  Their  silk  and  velvet  waistcoats  were 
embroidered  and  trimmed  with  lace,  from  which  immaculate  finely  worked 
shirt  frills  stood  out  conspicuously.  High  plated  stocks  of  silk  or  satin, 
stiff  with  buckram,  and  fastened  behind  with  silver,  steel  or  brass  clasps, 
confined  the  white  frill  or  collar  around  the  throat.  Their  breeches  were 
of  velvet,  colored  cloth  and  silk,  clasped  at  the  knee  over  silk  stockings, 
with  silk  and  velvet  bows,  or  gold  and  silver  buckles.  They  also  wore 
ribbon  bows,  and  gold  and  silver  buckles  on  their  shoes.  Long  circular 
cloaks  lined  with  gay  colors  were  worn  as  outside  wraps.  It  was 
about  this  time  that  the  military  cocked  hat,  with  a  brim  full  six  inches  in 
width  was  introduced,  upon  which  some  wore  the  long  plume  of  the  reign 
of  Charles  I.  This  hat  was  first  turned  up  on  one  side,  then  on  both  sides, 
and  finally  on  three  sides.  The  latter  style  gave  rise  to  the  name  of  the 
"  three  cornered  cocked  hat"  Ladies  wore  rich  embroidered  and  brocaded 
silk  and  velvet  petticoats,  with  tight-fitting  velvet  waists  and  short  over- 
skirts  of  another  material  ;  mutton-leg  sleeves,  trimmed  with  turned-up 
white  ruffles,  fur,  lace  or  fringe.  They  wore  full  ruffles  of  embroidered 
lace  or  linen  cambric  around  the  throat.  Gay  silk  stockings,  high-heeled 
silk  and  satin  shoes  and  slippers,  decorated  with  handsome  gold  or  silver 
buckles,  were  worn  upon  their  dainty  feet.  Their  hair  was  dressed  high, 
with  soft  curls  around  the  forehead.  Their  hats  were  pretty,  with  moder- 
ately high  crowns  and  wide  brims  and  feathers.  Their  cloaks  were  long, 
graceful  and  circular  in  form,  often  of  gay  red  or  blue  cloth,  and  sometimes 
of  other  material,  or  velvet,  trimmed  with  fur.  Chains  for  the  neck  were 
worn  by  both  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Ladies  also  wore  silver  and  gold 
girdles  and  chatelaines,  from  which,  on  Sundays,  were  suspended  costly 
bound  Bibles  and  hymn-books. 

The  first  dwellings  of  our  New  England  ancestors  were  built  of  logs, 
and  were  nothing  more  than  log-cabins.  Plastered  walls  were  not  common, 
and  even  among  the  rich,  hangings  were  used  to  keep  out  the  cold.  The 
poorer  classes  had  floors  of  clay,  and  holes  in  the  roofs  instead  of  chimneys, 
for  the  escape  of  smoke.  Oiled  paper  served  for  window-glass.  The  few 
who  possessed  glass  windows,  protected  them  with  great  care.  *  Stone 
houses  were  occasionally  built  in  a  very  rude  and  primitive  manner.  As 
the  settlements  increased,  and  saw-mills  were  erected,  frame  houses 
appeared,  of  which  some  relics  are  still  to  be  seen  at  Fairfield.  The  frames 
of  these  houses  were  of  oak  timbers,  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in 


146  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [!67o 

diameter.  The  rafters  were  but  a  little  smaller,  across  which  "  ribs  "  were 
laid  at  regular  distances.  Over  these,  shingles  of  cedar  were  fastened  with 
large  wrought-iron  nails.  Oak  clapboards,  smoothed  with  a  shaving-knife, 
and  lapping  over  each  other,  covered  the  sides  of  the  building.  Oaken 
planks  covered  the  floors.  The  rooms  on  the  first  floor  were  not  more 
than  seven  feet  in  height,  and  about  six  and  a  half  on  the  second  floor. 
The  beams,  with  the  planks  of  the  second  floor,  formed  the  ceilings  of  the 
first  story.  Panes  of  diamond  shape,  set  in  two  leaden  frames  fastened  to 
the  sides  of  the  house,  and  opening  from  the  centre  outward,  were  the 
style  of  windows  used.  The  outer  doors  were  made  of  double  oaken 
planks,  fastened  together  with  large  iron  nails  or  spikes,  in  the  angles  of 
diamonds.  For  a  long  time  the  outer  doors  were  secured  by  heavy  bars 
of  wood,  and  afterwards  with  large  iron  hinges  and  latches.  The  latter  were 
made  fast  with  an  oaken  plug  of  wood,  which  hung  in  the  day  time  from  a 
string  attached  to  the  latch.  When  in  use  the  latch  was  down.  The 
expression  "  the  latch  is  always  up  for  you  "  was  a  frequent  mode  of  wel- 
come. At  a  later  date  enormous  locks  and  keys,  with  brass  or  iron  door- 
knockers came  into  use. 

Besides  the  kitchen  and  bed-room  adjoining  it,  there  were  but  seldom 
more  than  two  rooms  on  the  first  floor.  In  the  course  of  time,  among  the 
rich,  the  fire-places  in  the  best  parlor  and  the  sitting-room  were  bordered 
with  earthen  and  China  tiles,  painted  in  various  designs  of  birds,  and  mytho- 
logical figures,  or  with  men,  women,  and  children,  dressed  in  the  fashions 
of  those  days.  Highly  polished  andirons,  and  brass  fenders  were  used  in 
these  fire-places.  On  the  mantel-piece  above,  were  silver,  glass,  or  brass 
candlesticks,  with  dipped  candles  of  home-make,  and  also  small  trays 
for  the  snuffers.  Over  the  mantel  was  usually  a  closet  in  the  bricks.  The 
most  wonderful  part  of  one  of  these  dwellings  was  the  chimney,  built  in  the 
centre  of  the  house  upon  a  stone  foundation  of  twelve  feet  square.  The 
fire-place  in  the  kitchen  extended  across  the  full  length  of  the  chimney. 
The  hearth  consisted  of  one  or  more  large  flat  stones,  fitted  into  the  floor, 
and  extending  well  out  into  the  room.  From  heavy  iron  sockets,  fastened 
on  the  right  side  against  the  back  of  the  chimney,  swept  a  long  iron  crane. 
From  this  hung  iron  trammels,  each  with  rows  of  holes  one  above  the  other, 
into  which  hooks  were  fitted,  by  means  of  which  the  pots  and  kettles  used 
in  cooking  could  be  raised  or  lowered  over  the  fire.  On  the  right  side,  and 
opening  into  the  chimney,  was  built  a  huge  brick  oven  used  for  baking 
purposes.  Near  the  front  of  the  fire-place,  on  each  side  of  the  jambs,  were 
seats  of  brick,  on  which  a  person  could  sit  with  ease,  and  on  a  cold  winter's 
day  with  comfort.  It  was  not  an  unusual  thing  in  the  early  part  of  winter 


1670]  AN    INTERESTING   DECADE  147 

to  see  hams  and  pieces  of  bacon  suspended  from  a  long  pole,  fastened  at  a 
sufficient  height  up  the  chimney  to  smoke  and  yet  not  to  cook  them.* 

The  manner  of  building  a  fire  in  these  chimneys  was  one  of  the 
scientific  arts  of  the  time.  First  a  huge  green  log  of  oak  or  hickory,  full 
six  or  seven  feet  long,  was  brought  in,  and  placed  against  the  back  of  the 
chimney.  This  was  called  the  back-log.  On  the  top  of  this  was  laid  another 
log,  not  quite  as  large  however,  called  the  back-stick.  The  ponderous 
iron  andirons,  surmounted  with  Turks-heads,  were  then  placed  against  the 
back-log.  Well  towards  the  front  of  the  andirons  was  laid  another  round, 
knotty  stick  of  medium  size,  called  the  fore-stick,  between  which,  and 
the  back  log,  chips,  dry  pine,  and  split  wood  were  curiously  filled  in. 
Then  a  tin  tinder-box  was  brought  into  use,  which  resembled  a  tin 
pint-cup  with  a  lid,  on  the  top  of  which  was  a  candle-socket.  There 
was  an  inner  lid  which  covered  the  tow,  or  tinder,  and  upon  which,  when 
not  in  use,  a  piece  of  rough  steel  and  a  flint  stone  were  kept.  The  only 
matches  known  in  those  days  were  of  home  manufacture,  and  consisted 
of  pine  splints  tipped  with  roll  brimstone.  It  happened  occasionally  that 
a  housekeeper  neglected  to  keep  her  tinder-box  well  filled,  and  her  matches 
prepared  when  her  only  resort  to  kindle  a  fire  was  to  borrow  a  shovelful 
of  burning  coals  from  the  nearest  neighbor,  who  not  unfrcquently  lived 
two  miles  distant.  A  fire  was  kindled  by  striking  the  flint  stone  against 
the  rough  steel ;  the  tinder  caught  fire  from  the  sparks,  from  which  the 
brimstone  splints  were  lighted,  and  immediately  applied  to  the  pine  wood 
in  the  fire-place,  when  with  one  loud  roar,  quite  equal  to  artillery,  the  blaz- 
ing wood  leaped  up  the  great  throat  of  the  chimney  in  streams  of  flaming 

*  One  of  these  enormous  chimneys,  on  either  side  of  which  are  seats  in  the  jambs,  is  still  to  be 
seen  in  the  old  Hubbell  mansion  at  Greenfield  hill.  The  crane,  now  quite  two  hundred  years  old, 
with  the  iron  trammels  and  hooks,  swings  in  the  chimney.  A  long  kitchen  extends  across  the 
entire  back  of  the  house,  taking  in  t'.ic  lean-to  and  the  old  fashioned  pantries.  The  floors  and 
doors  throughout  the  house  are  of  oak.  High  carved  mahogany  chairs  grace  the  parlor.  On  the 
old-fashioned  square  table  are  books  of  great  age,  and  beside  them  Miss  Priscilla  Hubbell's  beau- 
tiful toilet-case  of  cut-glass  bottles,  which  her  lover  brought  her  all  the  way  from  Europe  almost  a  hun- 
dred years  ago,  before  he  went  away  to  sea  for  the  last  time  and  was  lost.  China  and  cut  glass,  pewter 
platters  and  table  vessels,  quite  as  old  as  the  house,  decorate  the  table.  Home-spun  table  linen, 
marked  1700,  exhibits  the  taste,  as  well  as  the  skill  and  industry  of  this  family  in  colonial  times. 
In  one  of  the  bed-rooms  is  an  ingrain  carpet,  which  was  one  of  the  first  of  its  kind  brought  to  this 
country.  High-post  bedsteads,  and  the  warming-pan  have  been  permitted  to  survive  the  mania  of 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  when  so  much  that  was  venerable  and  valuable  was  cast  aside 
or  destroyed.  The  well-curb,  the  long  hickory  sweep,  the  iron  chain,  and  the  old  oaken  bucket, 
which  yields  the  spring  water  in  such  purity  and  sweetness  as  no  other  human  invention  has  ever 
rivaled,  are  still  to  be  seen  under  the  shade  of  the  old  maples,  elms  and  button  balls  of  two  hundred 
years  or  more. 


148  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1670 

fire.     The  sap  which  oozed  from  the  ends  of  the  green  wood  sent  out  a  most 
delicate  and  pleasant  odor  through  the  room,  all  aglow  with  cheerful  light. 

"  And  for  the  winter's  fireside  meet, 
Between  the  andirons'  straddling  feet, 
The  mug  of  cider  simmered  slow, 
The  apples  sputtered  in  a  row, 
And  close  at  hand,  the  basket  stood 
With  nuts  from  brown  October's  wood." 

If  the  green  wood  at  any  time  defied  the  strong  draft  of  the  chimney, 
a  pair  of  hand  bellows,  which  usually  hung  by  the  side  of  the  fire-place,  was 
brought  into  use. 

The  food  of  our  ancestors,  for  the  first  fifty  years  or  more,  consisted 
mostly  of  wild  game,  bear's  flesh,  venison,  swine  and  poultry.  Cattle  and 
sheep  were  not  often  killed  until  the  herds  became  numerous.  Even  milk 
at  first  was  used  almost  by  drops,  lest  the  supply  of  cream  for  butter  and 
cheese  should  fall  short  in  the  winter.  The  chief  viands  at  breakfast  were 
wheaten,  Indian,  and  corn  breads,  Johnny-cakes,  apple-pie,  cheese,  gin- 
gerbread and  doughnuts,  with  some  substantial  dish  of  meat,  game,  fish  or 
pork.  Hasty-pudding  and  milk,  bean-porridge  soup,  flavored  with  salt  pork, 
and  home-made  beer,  took  the  place  of  coffee  and  tea.  Tea  was  but  little 
known  among  our  ancestors  until  about  1750,  and  coffee  not  until  1770. 
And  tea  even  then,  the  English  found  to  their  cost,  we  could  afford  to  do 
without.  The  price  of  tea  in  1/45  was  from  one  pound  eight  shillings,  to 
one  pound  ten  shillings  per  pound.  In  the  course  of  time,  when  the  apple 
and  peach  orchards  were  of  yielding  age,  cider,  with  apple  and  "peach 
brandy  came  into  common  use.  The  orchards  were  kept  with  great  care, 
and  a  keeper  \vas  appointed  by  the  town  to  nurse  and  attend  to  them. 
But  while  our  forefathers  indulged  in  the  use  of  home-made  brandy,  they 
did  so  with  judgment.  The  disgrace  of  being  intoxicated  cost  too  much 
in  those  days  to  be  frequently  indulged  in,  as  will  be  shown  hereafter. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  that  some  of  them  were  occasionally  imprudent  and 
took  a  little  too  much,  but  what  they  drank  was  free  from  adulteration. 
They  knew  nothing  of  the  vile  concoctions  of  the  modern  day  which  fire 
the  brain  with  madness,  and  incite  deeds  of  horror  almost  without  par- 
allel in  the  world's  history. 

The  dinner  hour  was  at  noon,  and  was  called  the  hour  of  "  nooning." 
The  first  course  for  many  years  was  a  large  Indian-meal  pudding,  with  an 
appropriate  sauce.  An  old  gentleman  living  at  Southport  relates  the  story 
of  a  farmer  at  Greenfield  Hill,  who  was  so  mean  as  not  to  be  willing  that 


1670]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  149 

his  slaves  should  eat  freely  of  turkey  and  goose  on  a  Thanksgiving-Day, 
and  gave  out  word  that  the  one  who  ate  the  most  liberally  of  pudding 
should  have  the  most  turkey  and  goose.  Not  seeing  the  trap  set  for  them, 
the  poor  things  ate  so  much  pudding  that  they  had  no  appetite  left  for 
anything  else,  over  which  some  of  them  cried  with  vexation.  Boiled  pork- 
accompanied  with  vegetables,  boiled,  baked  and  roast  beef,  venison,  and 
poultry,  were  among  the  principal  dishes  at  dinner.  Roast  meats  and 
poultry  were  cooked  before  the  fire  in  a  tin  oven  with  an  open  front,  some- 
times called  a  Dutch  oven.  Turkeys  and  geese  were  often  roasted  before 
the  fire,  and  were  suspended  by  a  long  string  from  the  ceiling,  and  turned 
frequently  by  some  person  stationed  to  attend  to  them. 

An  amusing  story  is  told  of  a  little  colored  boy  who,  upon  seeing  the 
string  break  on  a  Thanksgiving  Day,  ran  into  the  parlor,  crying  out,  "  O, 
Massa  !  please  come,  de  Thanksgiving  has  tumbled  into  de  fire  and  dirtied 
hiself  all  ober  !  " 

Succotash  was  an  Indian  dish  which  the  English  soon  learned  the  art 
of  preparing.  Baked  beans,  boiled  and  baked  Indian  pudding,  samp  and 
hominy  were  every-day  dishes.  Fish  was  eaten  on  Saturday,  but  never 
on  Friday. 

The  tea  consisted  of  cold  meats,  delicious  corn  and  rye  bread,  and 
plain  cakes.  The  latter  were  baked  in  an  iron  covered  vessel  called  a 
spider,  set  upon  a  bed  of  coals,  and  with  coals  heaped  on  the  lid.  Raised 
cake,  or  loaf-cake  filled  with  plums,  in  the  course  of  time,  became  a  favor- 
ite cake  at  weddings,  and  was  far  more  delicious  than  the  unwholesome 
black  fruit-cake  that  of  late  years  has  taken  its  place.  Hartford  loaf-cake 
and  election-cake  no  modern  housekeeper  could  surpass. 

The  principal  table  utensils  were  made  of  pewter,  which  came  in  sets 
of  platters,  plates,  spoons,  and  tea  dishes.  The  platters  and  plates  some- 
times were  ornamented  with  the  family  coat  of  arms.  These  pewter  sets 
were  kept  well  polished  and  shone  like  silver.  Some  of  the  rich  had 
spoons,  flagons,  beakers,  and  cups  of  silver.  But  as  a  general  thing  such 
table  ware  was  not  very  abundant. 

The  labor  of  making  a  general  division  of  the  lands  embraced  within 
the  town  limits,  continued  to  be  carried  forward  with  great  energy.  From 
the  west  slope  of  Golden-hill  almost  to  the  Saugatuck  river,  the  dwellings 
of  its  inhabitants  dotted  the  valley  and  hills  along  the  Sound.  English 
grass  covered  the  cultivated  meadows  ;  and  wheat,  corn,  barley,  rye  and 
oats  abounded  in  rich  profusion.  Herds  of  sheep,  horses  and  cattle  were 
plentiful.  In  addition  to  a  large  tract  of  land  already  granted  to  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  near  the  Saugatuck  river,  the  town  ordered  five 


150  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1670 

acres  at  the  pines,  between  Pine  creek  and  the  beach,  and  eighteen  at 
Round-hill  to  be  laid  out  to  him. 

Richard  Ogden  purchased  the  mill  he  had  erected  on  Mill  river  from 
the  town,  February  I5th.  A  fence  was  ordered  to  be  made  across  the 
great  meadow  from  Paul's  neck  to  Pine  creek,  to  close  it  in  from  the 
beach,  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

The  members  of  Christ's  Church  in  Fairfield  entertained  a  strong 
desire  at  this  time,  that  Eliphalet,  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  should 
settle  among  them.  In  the  month  of  March,  by  a  vote  of  the  freemen  of 
the  town,  he  was  invited  to  become  an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wake- 
man,  with  a  salary  of  forty  pounds  annually  and  eight  or  ten  acres  of  land 
on  the  east  side  of  Uncoway  river,  provided  he  accepted  the  call,  and 
remained  among  them.  Whether  on  account  of  a  proposal  that  his  salary 
should  be  paid  out  of  the  town  rate  for  the  minister's  support,  by  which 
the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  would  fall  short  forty  pounds  of  his  salary,  or 
a  preference  for  some  other  place,  Mr.  Jones  did  not  accept  the  call ; 
but  in  1672,  at  which  time  he  was  preaching  at  Greenwich,  he  was  invited 
by  the  town  of  Stamford  to  become  a  minister  in  that  place,  "  if  he 
removed  from  Greenwich."  He  soon  after  accepted  the  call. 

Meanwhile  trouble  arose  about  the  salary  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wakeman. 
The  parsonage,  which  had  been  promised  him  at  the  time  he  became  the 
minister  of  Fairfield,  had  been  completed,  and  he  was  allowed  to  occupy 
it  provided  he  kept  it  in  repair.  On  the  22d  of  the  following  month  a 
vote  was  passed  at  a  town  meeting: 

"  Whereas  by  an  order  bearing-  date  Jan.  30.  1668  there  was  an  hundred  pounds  a 
year,  with  the  use  of  the  swamps  &  parsonage  land  granted  unto  the  ministry,  the  town 
upon  good  reasons  moving  them  thereto,  repeal  the  said  order,  &  in  lieu  thereof,  they  do 
grant  unto  Mr.  Wakeman  the  use  of  the  swamps  &  parsonage  lands,  until  the  town  shall 
otherwise  order  ;  &  also  towards  his  maintenance  the  present  year,  they  will  pay  to  raise 
his  maintenance  by  a  voluntary  contribution." 

At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Wakeman  was  voted  a  meet  proportion  of  the 
dividend  lands  of  the  town.  None  of  these  proposals,  however,  appear  to 
have  satisfied  Mr.  Wakeman,  who,  no  doubt,  according  to  the  usages  of 
those  days,  did  not  feel  that  he  could  afford  to  give  up  the  regular  tax  laid 
upon  the  church  and  town  for  the  maintenance  of  its  minister.  He  there- 
fore remonstrated  against  the  vote  to  pay  his  salary  by  a  voluntary  contri- 
bution, and  appealed  his  case  to  the  General  Court,  which  granted  him  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  "  to  be  taken  up  where  it  may  not  prejudice  former 
grants  to  any  plantation  or  particular  person." 

At  the  May  court  of  election,   Major  Gold    was    made  an    assistant  of 


f67o]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  15! 

the  General  Assembly;  John  and  Jehu  Burr  deputies;  and  Jehu  Burr  and 
William  Hill  commissioners  for  Fairfield.*  Richard  Osborn,  Isaac  Hall, 
Isaac  Wheeler,  Samuel  Treadvvell,  Samuel  Hall,  Joseph  Whelpley  and 
Samuel  Smith  were  nominated  to  be  made  freemen.  The  increasing 
number  of  freemen  and  the  inconvenience  of  so  large  a  body  attending 
the  annual  court  of  election  at  Hartford,  led  to  the  passage  of  an  act, 
that  the  freemen  throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut  might  "appear 
in  person  or  send  proxies  "  to  consummate  the  election  of  the  governor, 
deputy-governor,  assistants  and  other  public  officers  under  the  charter. 
That  fraud  by  proxies  might  be  prevented,  it  was  enacted  that  "a  copy 
of  the  names  of  those  persons  who  should  be  nominated  in  October  for 
the  May  election  should  be  sent  to  each  town,  &  published  by  the  con- 
stables to  the  freemen."  The  constables  were  ordered  to  summon  the 
freemen  to  meet  annually  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  April,  and  first  to  read 
to  them  the  freeman's  oath  and  the  penalty  of  disorderly  voting.  They 
were  then  to  be  presented  with  the  nominees  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
October,  out  of  which  number  each  person  was  to  give  the  constable  of 
his  town  "  the  name  of  him  whom  he  would  have  for  governor,  fairly 
written  upon  a  piece  of  paper."  The  constables  with  the  commissioners 
or  one  of  the  deputies  of  the  town  were  ordered  to  receive  these  papers, 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  freemen  put  them  up  in  pieces  of  paper,  and 
seal  them  up,  and  write  upon  the  outside  of  the  paper  the  name  of 
the  town  and  these  words,  "The  vote  of  the  Governor."  The  deputy- 
governor,  treasurer  and  secretary,  deputies  and  other  officers  were  to  be 
elected  in  the  same  way.  The  constables  or  deputies  were  then  ordered 
to  deliver  the  sealed  votes,  with  the  names  of  all  the  voters  at  the  annual 
election  at  Hartford,  to  which  they  were  to  make  oath.  Such  names  as  the 
freemen  wished  to  be  presented  for  nomination,  were  likewise  to  be  writ- 
ten on  slips  of  paper,  and  sealed  before  being  presented  to  the  Assembly. 
Major  Gold,  Jehu  Burr,  and  John  Burr,  were  granted  liberty  to  pur- 
chase Wyantenuck  and  the  lands  adjacent  for  a  plantation.  Nathan  Gold, 
Jehu  Burr,  and  William  Hill,  of  Fairfield,  Thomas  Fairchild,  of  Stratford, 
and  Thomas  Fitch,  of  Norwalk,  were  appointed  a  committee  "  for  the 
well  ordering  of  the  same,  &  also  to  entertain  the  inhabitants."  Any  of 
the  honest  inhabitants  of  the  colony  were  invited  "  to  be  entertained 
there  till  the  place  was  filled."  If  the  place  was  not  planted  in  four  years, 
it  was  to  return  to  the  town.f 

*Col.  Rec.   Conn.,  II.,  126,  127,  131. 

f  This  grant   comprised  the   present   township  of   New  Milford,  together  with   the  adjoining 
townships  on  the  south-west. — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  128. 


152  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1670 

Major  Gold  was  instructed  to  administer  the  oath  of  a  commissioner  to 
Mr.  John  Holly,  sr.,  of  Stamford,  after  he  had  taken  the  freeman's  oath. 
The  names  nominated  for  freemen  from  Fairfield  in  October  were  accepted, 
and  they  were  ordered  to  take  the  freeman's  oath  before  the  magistrates 
of  the  town.  Those  who  took  the  freeman's  oath  at  this  time  were  Rev. 
Eliphalet  Jones,  Josiah  Harvey,  Richard  Lyon,  John  Andrews,  Francis 
Bradley,  John  Tompkins,  and  Joseph  Middlebrook.  At  a  town  meeting, 
held  September  10,  an  agreement  was  made  with  the  Indians  for  six  miles 
of  land  lying  north  of  the  original  purchase,  for  ^30,  to  be  paid  in  truckling 
or  trading  cloth,  at  IDS.  a  yard.  Mr.  Jehu  Burr  was  appointed  to  provide 
the  cloth,  and  the  town  engaged  to  pay  him  for  it  in  winter  wheat  at  $s. 
per  bushel,  or  Indian  corn  at  2s.  per  bushel,  at  or  before  the  last  of  Jan- 
uary. A  tax  was  laid  upon  the  town  in  specie  to  pay  for  the  purchase  of 
this  cloth. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  the  land  should  be  cleared,  and  that  stones  be 
gathered  in  heaps  upon  the  commons.  At  a  town  meeting,  held  Septem- 
ber 28th,  Richard  Hubbell  was  appointed  to  buy  about  thirty  yards  of 
truckling  cloth  to  pay  the  Indians;  and  if  he  failed,  Daniel  Burr  and  John 
Banks  were  to  make  the  purchase.  Major  Gold  and  Jehu  Burr  were 
appointed  two  of  a  committee  by  the  General  Assembly  in  October,  "to 
agree  with  some  meet  person,  to  keep  the  ferry  between  Stratford  & 
Milford  for  twenty-one  years."  Jehu  Burr  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to 
appraise  the  lands  "  belonging  to  the  several  plantations  in  the  colony," 
and  make  a  report  to  the  Assembly.  The  valuation  of  the  list  of  personal 
estates  at  Fairfield  this  year  was  ^"10,201,  ^d.  A  purchase  of  lands  made 
by  Thomas  Hopewell,  of  an  Aspetuck  Indian,  was  referred  to  the  county 
court  of  Fairfield. 

Every  male  in  the  plantations  "  from  fourteen  years  old  &  upward, 
except  assistants,  commissioners,  or  ministers  of  the  gospel,"  was  ordered 
to  work  one  day  annually,  in  June,  in  cutting  down  and  clearing  under- 
wood, "  that  so  there  may  be  pasture,  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings." 
If  the  officers  of  the  town  neglected  to  appoint  a  day  for  this  work,  a  fine 
of  five  pounds  was  imposed  upon  them.  The  standard  brass  weights  and 
measures  having  been  procured  from  England,  each  county  was  ordered 
to  furnish  itself  with  a  necessary  set  of  each  kind,  as  approved  and  tried 
by  the  colony  standards  at  Hartford.  Before  the  expiration  of  nine 
months  each  town  was  ordered  to  be  furnished  with  a  suitable  set  of  the 
same  ;  and  those  of  each  particular  person  were  to  be  tested  by  the  town 
standard  within  ten  months,  under  a  penalty  of  $s.  for  every  breach  of 
this  law.  George  Graves  and  Sergeant  Joseph  Nash  were  appointed  to 


1670]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  153 

seal  with  the  colony  stamp  the  county  measures.  Captain  Nathan  Gold 
was  made  one  of  a  committee  to  examine  the  lands  at  the  "  farr  Mill 
River,"  which  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford  had  petitioned,  through 
Assistant  Sherman,  should  be  granted  for  a  plantation.  It  was  ordered 
that  the  governor,  deputy-governor,  and  assistants  should  be  chosen  out 
of  those  nominated  by  the  October  court  to  stand  for  election  in  May, 
any  order  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  In  compliance  with  this 
order,  the  Assembly  proceeded  to  nominate  the  officers  for  the  spring 
election.  William  Hill,  of  Fairfield,  was  nominated  for  an  assistant  judge 
of  the  General  Court.  The  county  court  of  Fairfield  was  recommended 
to  take  an  effectual  course  to  settle  an  able  orthodox  minister  in  the  town 
of  Rye,  and  to  order  a  competent  salary  for  his  maintenance,  "with  coer- 
cion of  payment,  according  to  law,  if  any  were  opposed  to  this  order." 
The  well  affected  of  the  said  town  "  to  a  settlement  of  such  a  mercy  among 
them,-"  were  referred  to  the  county  court  at  Fairfield. 

The  third  Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  a  general  thanks- 
giving in  all  the  towns  in  the  colony  to  praise  God  "  for  the  continuation 
of  the  Gospel  of  Peace  ;  so  good  a  measure  of  health  ;  the  removal  of 
sickness  from  some  of  the  plantations  ;  for  a  blessing  upon  their  labors  & 
upon  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ;  &  for  the  peace  of  the  country."  Richard 
Osborn,  Isaac  Hall,  Isaac  Wheeler,  Samuel  Treadwell,  Samuel  Hall,  Jo- 
seph Whelpley,  and  Samuel  Smith  were  accepted  as  freemen  of  Fairfield. 
The  following  document  gives  an  interesting  idea  of  the  fencing  of  the 
large  lots  of  the  Bankside  farmers. 

"  Dec  28th  Whereas  att  ye  Last  town  meeting'  Mr  Gold  and  Will171  Hill  were  ap- 
pointed to  Settle  ye  fence  pertaining  to  ye  home-Lots  att  Maxumux,  ye  Settlement  yr -of, 
wth  ye  Consent  of  Jn°  Green  Robt.  Beachem,  Jos.  Lockwood,  Simon  Couch  &  Jn°  An- 
drus  are  as  followeth. 

1.  It  is  agreed  yl  Each  of  ye   four  great  Lots  Shall  fence  both  ye  Ends  of  yer  Lots  and 
one  Side,    being  y    East  Side  of  yr  Lots. 

2.  It  is  agreed  y*  ye  Side  on  ye  out  Side  of  Andrews  Lot,  Shall  be  fenced  in  Conion,  by 
ye  proprietors  of  yce  four  Lots  Equally  dividid,  which  doth  amount  to  Eighteen  Rods  and 
half  to  a  Lot,  Jos.   Lockwood  to  begin  on  ye  Lower  End,  and  So  each  Lot  to  fence  it  Suc- 
cessively. 

3.  We   find  &  it   is  so   to   Stand  y'  Andrews  Successors  are  to  do  Jn°  Green's  Siiare 
offence,  in  ye  Said  Corfion  fence,   and  ye  Said   Jn°  is   to  maintain  twenty  rods  of  yc   di- 
viding line  of  fence  between  him  and  Couch  and  Andrews,  att  yc  front  End  of  yc   Line, 
this  is  in  lieu  of  w*  is  done  for  him  in  y    Cofhon  Line  of  fence. 

4.  Simon   Couch   is  to   maintain  all  Robt.    Beachem's  Share  of  Common   fence,  ami  in 
lieu    yer  of,    Jn°  Green    is    to    maintain    Eighteen   rods    and    half  of  fence   in  \c  dividing 
fence  between   Couch  and  him,  next  to  \v*    he  now  maintains  ;  and   for  Satistaction    to 
Jn°  Green  for  ye  fence,  he  cloth  maintain  for  Couch,  ye  Said  Robt.  is  to  make  and  main- 


154  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1671 

tain  Eighteen  rods  and  half  of  fence  upon  ye  dividing-  line,  between  him  and  Jn°  Green 
att  ye  Rear  end  of  ye  line.  Jn°  Andrews  must  make  and  maintain  all  ye  fence  between 
him  and  Jn°  Green  as  far  as  his  Land  goes,  and  ye  Said  Andrews  proportion  of  Cofhon 
fence  for  his  land  is  agreed  to  be  three  rods,  \vch  is  to  be  made  in  ye  line  between  Couch 
and  him.* 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  I4th  of  January,  it  was  voted  that  there 
should  be  a  division  of  the  greater  part  of  the  undivided  lands  to  the 
owners  of  estates,  according  to  the  list  as  it  then  stood.  A  new  rule  for 
division  was  adopted.  Each  master  of  a  family  was  granted  "  thirty 
pounds,  a  wife  ten  pounds,  &  a  child  ten  pounds,  to  be  added  to  the  list 
of  estates  ;  "  and  each  individual  was  to  receive  his  dividend  according  to 
the  total  sum  of  his  estate.  The  happy  man  who  was  father  of  a  large 
family,  gained  his  acres  in  proportion  to  each  youthful  head.  William 
Hill  was  authorized  to  draw  up  a  list  for  the  division  of  lands.  A  tax  was 
ordered  to  be  forthwith  levied  on  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  who  had 
aright  to  share  in  the  land  dividends,  to  pay  the  Indians. f  If  any  failed 
to  pay  their  rate  according  to  this  order,  their  lands  and  goods  were  sub- 
ject to  a  fine.  Obediah  Gilbert  was  appointed  receiver  of  the  peas,  corn, 
etc.,  to  be  sent  in,  for  which  he  was  to  be  paid  three  half  pence  per  bushel, 
for  his  trouble.  The  west  fanners  were  to  deliver  their  rates  by  the  i6th 
of  February,  and  the  east  farmers  on  the  I7th.  The  receiver  was  to  pay 
in  to  the  town,  as  much  as  he  received  by  the  first  of  June. 

That  the  heirs  of  those  who  had  died,  and  others  who  were  absent, 
might  not  suffer  loss  in  the  division,  provision  was  made,  that  their  tenants 
or  those  engaged  in  improving  their  lands,  should  receive  under  their 
care,  the  new  dividends.  Samuel  Drake's  tenant,  John  Loom,  was  to 
receive  his  proportion.  Thomas  Lyon  was  to  receive  his  dividend  in  his 
own  right  from  his  tenant.  Samuel  Goodwin  was  to  have  his  proportion 
as  a  master  of  a  family.  Daniel  Finch  was  to  have  his  dividend  according 
to  his  tenant,  Henry  Castle's  list  of  his  estate.  Phebe  and  Deborah  Bar- 
low, the  sole  surviving  heirs  of  Thomas  Barlow,  v/ere  to  receive  their  father's 
proportion  from  their  tenant,  Edward  Wilson.  Isaac  Sherwood  and  Na- 
thaniel Perry,  were  to  receive  theirs  as  masters  of  a  family.  Sarah  Wilson, 
a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Jones,  who  was  first  a  widow  of  Thomas  Bulkley 
and  at  this  time  the  widow  of  Antony  Wilson,  was  to  receive  her  propor- 
tion as  a  master  of  a  family.  Ezborn  Wakeman,  a  cousin  of  the  Rev. 

*  B,   Town  Votes,  p.  28. 

f  A  deed  of  this  land  was  drawn  up  and  dated  igth  of  January,  1670,  and  is  recorded  in  B  of 
Town  Votes  ;  but  for  some  reasons,  it  was  neither  signed  nor  witnessed  by  the  Indians  or  English 
purchasers.  From  this  time,  however,  it  appears  to  have  been  paid  for,  and  regarded  as  fully  pur- 
chased by  the  townsmen. 


1671]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  155 

Samuel  Wakeman,  was  granted  a  share  in  the  dividend  at  the  rate  of 
£20  estate.  Major  Gold  was  voted  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  to  be 
added  to  his  proportion.  Stephen  Sherwood  in  like  manner  was  granted 
an  addition  of  eighty  acres.  George  Squire,  jr.,  was  granted  a  child's  por- 
tion, according  to  his  list  of  estate  from  his  father.*  The  town  had  voted 
thus  far  in  attempting  to  deal  righteously  with  its  widows  and  orphans, 
when  the  idea  probably  occurred  to  it,  that  the  vote  in  reference  to  orphans 
and  widows  was  sufficient  to  cover  such  claims,  and  the  matter  was 
abruptly  brought  to  a  conclusion  by  a  vote:  "That  the  town  hath  put  a 
stop  to  any  farther  grant  of  any  commonage  forever."  John  Banks  and 
Cornelius  Hull  were  appointed  to  advise  together,  as  to  the  best  way  to 
lay  out  the  commons,  and  make  a  report  to  the  next  town  meeting.  On 
the  3Oth  of  January  the  townsmen  assembled  again  and  voted  the  follow- 
ing plan  for  distributing  the  lands  within  the  township. 

Whereas  ye  Town  hath  already  Concluded  to  divide  ye  Greatest  part  of  ye  Commons 
to  ye  Several  Inhabitants,  ye  town  hath  this  day  ordered  y1  y"  Shall  be  a  dividend  of  Land, 
taken  up  by  y°  Several  Inhabitants  of  ye  Town  y*  have  Right  to  Divide,  upon  both  ye  Sides 
of  ye  Town,  to  Each  Inhabitant  proportionable  to  yr  due. 

Ye  Dimensions  of  ye  field  is  as  hereafter  followeth :  it  is  ordered  y'  ye  west  Dividend  is 
to  begin  by  Norwalk  bounds,  and  to  run  back  Eight  Score  rod,  and  So  to  Run  towards 
ye  Town  Eastward  from  ye  Said  bounds  about  two  miles  and  half:  and  \c  Dividend  of 
ye  East  End  of  ye  Town  is  to  Run  from  Stratford  bounds  westward,  it  is  to  run  a  mile  and 
half,  Running  back  Eight  Score  Rods,  ifyeComons  will  bare  it.  Those  Lots  are  to  be 
taken  into  fence,  when  Each  Inhabitant  Shall  See  cause  to  make  Such  use  of  it  as  they 
Shall  think  meet  :  it  is  also  ordered  y£  yer  Shall  be  a  Line  drawn  from  ye  bounds  ot  Strat- 
ford to  ye  bounds  of  Norwalk,  leaving  Sufficient  high  wayes  between  y°  farms  and  yc  Divi- 
dends :  it  is  also  ordered  y'  yc  Lands  Contained  between  yc  abovesaid  two  Dividends, 
Shall  be  alottecl  to  ye  Several  Inhabitants  proportionably  for  pastures  for  men  to  fence  yr 
when  y  please,  those  pastures  to  begin  att  yc  East  End  of  ye  Town  att  yc  hither  End  of 
ye  East  dividend,  and  So  to  Run  west  to  ye  Mill-River,  and  to  run  back  into  ye  woods 
Eight  Score  Rods  :  also  yc  pastures  on  yc  other  Side  of  yc  Mill-River  to  begin  Southward 
and  So  to  Run  Northward,  to  Run  back  eight  Score  rods  to  yc  building  Dividend  :  these 
pastures  are  not  to  be  built  upon — if  any  man  in  future  Time  Shall  build  upon  his  pasture, 
he  Shall  forfeit  his  pasture  into  yc  hands  of  ye  Town,  its'  also  ordered  y*  yc  farmers  att 
Each  End  of  ye  Town,  Shall  have  yr  pastures  adjoyned  to  yr  building  Dividends  the  town 
hath  also  ordered  y1  yc  abovesaid  Dividends,  both  building  and  pasturing,  Shall  be  taken 
up  by  yc  Inhabitants  of  yc  Town  by  house-Row,  they  to  Run  as  followeth.  yc  widow 
Wheeler  to  begin  next  to  Stratford  bounds,  and  So  ye  neighbours  to  take  up  Successively 
westward  as  y  Lands  lye,  till  you  come  to  Rob'  Turney's,  he  included  :  then  to  begin  att 
Edward  Adams,  and  So  all  those  lying  between,  till  you  take  Goodman  Meacars  and 
Goodman  Jennings  :  then  to  begin  att  Hendricks  and  to  Run  to  Mr  Wakemans  :  then  to 
begin  att  Mr  Golds  and  Will™  Hills,  and  to  Run  up  y'  Street  till  it  Issue  wth  Jn°  Bulkly  : 

*  B,  Town  Votes,  pp.  30,  40. 


156  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1671 

then  to  begin  wth  Couch  and  Andrus  till  farms  have  yr  due  next  Norwalk  bounds,  and  So 
to  Run  Eastward  :  then  to  begin  att  R.  Ogdens,  to  begin  his  proportion  of  his  building 
dividend  where  ye  farms  Ended,  and  he  is  to  begin  upon  yc  pastures  over  ye  mill-River 
Southward,  and  So  ye  neighbours  Successively,  till  you  come  to  Mr.  Harvie's,  he  included: 
then  to  begin  wth  Thos.  Sherwington,  and  So  up  wth  y4  Street  on  both  sides  of  ye  high  way 
till  you  come  to  Barlow's  children,  they  Included  ;  each  Inhabitant  to  have  yr  proportions 
as  this  Land  ordered  to  be  divided,  as  the  quantity  yr  of  will  allow. 

The  Town  hath  ordered  y4  yr  Shall  be  a  Common  a  Cros  ye  Town  bounds  adjoining  to 
ye  northwest  Side  of  ye  abovesaid  pastures,  to  be  half  a  mile  broad,  to  be  a  Comon  for 
Ever. 

The  Town  hath  ordered  y4  yr  Shall  be  one  mile  broad  from  ye  abovesaid  half  mile 
Common  to  Run  into  ye  Country  to  ye  End  of  ye  bounds,  to  Remain  a  Common  for  ever  ; 
it  is  also  ordered  y4  all  ye  Lands  on  both  Sides  of  ye  mile  Common  (necessary  high  wayes 
Excepted)  Shall  be  laid  out  to  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  Town,  y4  have  Right  to  divide  propor- 
tionably  according  to  yr  Due  ;  to  be  laid  out  by  house  Row  according  to  ye  method  pre- 
scribed in  ye  abovesaid  order,  about  laying  out  pastures  and  building  Lots.  Widow 
Wheeler  to  begin  next  to  Stratford  bounds  and  Simon  Couch  and  Andrews  to  begin  next 
Norwalk  bounds,  and  So  ye  neighbourhood  to  take  it  up  Successively  inward,  till  all  have 
yr  proportions. 

Jn°-  Banks,  Serg4- Squire,  Cor  :  Hull  and  Mr.  Harvy  are  appointed  to  layout  ye  above- 
said  building  Lots  and  pastures,  and  to  lay  out  \v4  high  wayes  they  think  necessary  among 
ye  Said  Lots  and  pastures  :  also  they  are  appointed  to  lay  to  every  man  his  proportion  of 
Lands  on  ye  abovesaid  Lands,  lying  on  both  Sides  of  ye  mile  Common :  Every  man  to 
begin  in  his  place  next  to  ye  half  mile  Common,  and  so  to  Run  back  to  ye  End  of  our 
bounds,  necessary  high  wayes  to  be  laid  out.* 

The  highway  which  divided  the  half  mile  of  common  from  the  mile  of 
common  and  the  Long  lots,  began  a  little  below  Sherwood's  grist  mill, 
above  Toilesome  hill  at  Bridgeport,  ran  a  little  above  the  Stratfield  Bap- 
tist church,  crossed  Mill  river  below  Samp-mortar  rocks,  through  the  elm 
groves  to  the  foot  of  Greenfield  hill  and  the  estates  of  Frederick  Bronson 
Esq.,  and  David  Banks,  through  Hull's  farms,  past  the  old  school-house; 
ran  above  the  Adams'  academy  at  Green's  farms,  to  the  blacksmith's  shop 
at  Westport,  and  continued  on  to  the  old  bridge,  which  crosses  the  Sauga- 
tuck  river  at  Westport.  The  highway  which  ran  below  the  half  mile  of 
common  and  the  building  and  pasture  lots,  is  at  the  present  day,  mostly  in 
constant  use,  although  some  parts  of  it,  like  the  above  highway,  has 
become  overgrown  with  grass,  shrubs,  and  vines.  It  began  at  the  corner 
of  Division  avenue  and  the  King's  highway,  at  Bridgeport,  ran  to  Jack- 
son's, now  Moody's  mill,  and  through  chair  swamp,  forked  to  the  north- 
west from  the  King's  highway  at  the  Jew  cemetery,  ran  over  Holland  hill, 
past  General  Silliman's  estate,  to  the  rear  of  Osborn's  and  Round  hills,  to 

*  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  41.     See  Map  of  Fairfield,  Frontispiece. 


1671]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  157 

Richard  Ogden's  mill,  now  Burr  Perry's  mill,  at  Mill  plain  ;  there  forded 
Mill  river,  ran  past  the  estate  of  the  late  Abel  Beers,  over  Mill  hill,  and 
the  grass-grown  road,  a  little  north-west  of  the  present  turnpike  at  South- 
port,  crossed  the  turnpike  below  Sasco  mill-ponds,  and  the  farms  of  Joel 
and  Francis  Buckley,  wound  from  E.  Mills'  corner,  ran  over  Turkey  hill  to 
the  farms  of  William  Jennings,  T.  B.  and  H.  B.  Wakeman's,  crossed  Muddy 
brook  below  the  Green's  Farms  church,  at  Rev.  Dr.  Hezckiah  Ripley's  old 
homestead  ;  and  continued  south-west,  crossing  the  New  York  and  New 
Haven  Railroad  west  of  Sherwood's  island  ;  re-crossed  the  railroad,  and 
wound  to  the  road  at  Compo,  which  runs  due  north  to  Westport  village. 
The  King's  highway  began  at  the  corner  of  Division  street,  and  ran  west 
of  Mountain  Grove  cemetery  and  Moody's  mill,  and  is  now  called  the 
back  road  to  Bridgeport ;  from  the  fork  of  the  road  at  the  Jew  cemetery 
south-west  to  the  estate  of  the  late  John  Gould,  of  Fairfield,  through  the 
main  street  of  Fairfield,  and  through  Mill  plain,  where  it  ran  to  the  high- 
way which  lay  on  the  south  of  the  half  mile  of  commons,  and  the  building 
and  pasture  lots  to  Westport. 

The  views  of  Long  Island  Sound  and  of  the  surrounding  country  to  be 
seen  from  these  highways  are  very  beautiful. 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  author  of  this  work  to  give  a  second  and 
larger  map  in  the  second  volume,  containing  the  lines  of  these  highways, 
and  of  the  highways  between  the  Long  lots,  which  were  renewed  about 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  village  of  Greenfield  was  afterwards  built  upon  the  mile  of  com- 
mon, the  south-east  corner  of  which  is  bounded  by  the  road  which 
crosses  the  main  road  at  the  foot  of  the  long  hill  leading  up  to  the  meeting- 
house. The  half  mile  of  common,  which  extended  across  the  town, 
formed  the  division  line  between  the  building  and  pasture  lots  on  the 
south-east  and  the  Long  lots  above  it.  The  Long  lots  commenced  on  the 
north-west  of  the  half  mile  of  common,  and  lay  on  the  east  and  west  sides 
of  the  mile  of  common,  which  extended  to  the  north  limits  of  the  town. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  was  voted  a  share  in  the  dividends,  accord- 
ing to  his  proportion  of  ratable  estate.  In  this  dividend,  parsonage  land 
was  ordered  to  be  set  off  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred  pounds'  estate,  and 
school  lands  in  the  same  manner.  The  liberality  shown  to  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Wakeman  exhibited  the  spirit  of  those  days,  and  the  high  esteem  and 
reverence  paid  to  the  minister  of  God.  It  was  voted  that  hired  servants 
should  not  be  included  as  members  of  a  family,  thus  preventing  an  over 
share  of  land,  by  increasing  the  number  of  heads  of  families.  On  the  I5th 
of  February  the  names  of  Hendrick  Henrickson,  Daniel  Silliman  and  John 


158  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1671 

Applegate  were  added  to  the  list  of  dividend  sharers,  according  to  their 
list  of  estates.  Simon  Couch  and  John  Andrews,  in  right  of  their  deceased 
father  Francis  Andrews,  were  voted  to  receive  their  dividends  only  as 
one  master  of  a  family,  which  lands  should  be  equally  divided  between 
them.  They  were  also  ordered  to  divide  a  portion  of  land  at  a  place 
called  the  Horse-pasture,  then  in  controversy,  among  the  five  Bankside 
farmers. 

It  was  voted  that  highways  should  not  be  "  run  across  any  man's  build- 
ing or  pasture  lot."  The  town  granted  Sergeant  Seely  "  for  his  work  about 
the  meeting-house,  the  high  way  running  through  the  neck  below  his  house 
at  the  creek,  &  between  him  &  Paul's  Neck."  By  this  vote  it  would  appear, 
that  with  the  repairs  which  had  previously  been  made  upon  the  meeting- 
house, it  had  become  a  goodly  structure,  equal  to  any  in  the  colony  in  size 
and  in  comfortable  accommodations. 

Particular  attention  was  directed  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman's  farm 
at  Saugatuck,  by  a  vote,  that  he  should  have  the  privilege  of  annexing  to 
it,  according  to  his  list  of  ratable  estate,  the  use  of  the  undivided  com- 
mons for  grazing  his  cattle.  The  idea  appears  to  have  existed  that  while 
the  boundary  line  between  Norwalk  and  Fairfield  was  in  dispute,  the  grant 
of  a  large  farm  to  Mr.  Wakeman,  and  the  use  of  land  adjoining  it,  would 
hold  the  Norwalk  planters  at  bay  ;  the  influence  of  a  minister  in  those  days 
being  equal  to  that  of  the  whole  town. 

Nathaniel  Seely,  John  Wheeler  and  John  Green,  were  appointed  to 
settle  the  bounds  of  the  school  lands  in  Sasco.  On  the  i8th  of  April  John 
Green  was  granted  three  acres  of  land  above  the  bridge  over  Sasco  river, 
"provided  he  maintained  a  gate-way  at  the  front  west  corner  of  Daniel 
Frost's  lot,  to  be  well  hung  with  necessary  hinges." 

On  the  ipth  of  April  "  the  meadow  at  Sasco  Neck  below  the  bridge  & 
above  the  dam,  was  confirmed  to  John  Banks  &  those  connected  with  him, 
in  erecting  a  dam  at  Pine  Creek." 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  new  order  of  dividend  was  proposed  ;  which 
was,  that  the  dividend  line  between  the  building  lots,  pasture  lots,  and  the 
half  mile  of  common  should  run  as  follows : 

"  There  shall  be  a  straight  line  from  Stratford  bounds  to  ye  further  corner  of  ye  Round- 
hill,  next  ye  Mill  River,  so  as  to  clear  ye  cartway  y'  runs  to  Goodman  Jackson's  beyond 
Chair-swamp;  £  from  ye  said  corner  of  Round-hill  ye  line  is  to  run  straight  to  Goodman 
Ogden's  chimney  of  his  dwelling  ;  &  from  thence  yc  line  is  to  run  straight  to  ye  bounds 
already  appointed  near  Norwalk  bounds  ;  so  as  to  clear  a  sufficient  highway  over  Muddy- 
creek,  where  ye  way  goes  over  from  ye  farms  over  ye  said  creek.  Also  the  town  orders 
that  ye  tier  of  pastures  that  lie  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mill-River,  shall  run  in  ye  same 


1671]  AN   INTERESTING    DECADE  159 

range  as  ye  building  lots  do;  &  Goodman  Ogden  to  begin  next  ye  building  lots,  £  so 
ye  neighborhood  to  take  up  successively,  as  is  formerly  ordered."  * 

Among  those  who  had  been  nominated  in  October  for  the  following 
year  at  the  May  election,  Major  Gold  was  chosen  an  assistant  of  the  General 
Assembly;  William  Hill  and  John  Burr  deputies,  and  William  Hill  and  Jehu 
Burr  commissioners  from  Fairfield.  Trouble  having  arisen  at  Rye,  in  regard 
to  the  discontent  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  with  the  new  order  of  things, 
Nathan  Gold  and  John  Burr  were  made  two  of  a  committee  to  "repair 
thither,  to  compose  the  troubles  &  to  procure  an  orthodox  minister  to  settle 
there."  If  the  inhabitants  of  Rye  did  not  concur  with  the  endeavors  of 
the  committee,  they  were  invested  with  authority  "  to  settle  a  minister  for 
the  work  of  that  place,"  and  to  grant  him  a  rate  of  forty  pounds,  which 
should  be  levied  on  all  the  inhabitants  for  this  purpose,  to  be  collected  by 
the  constable  with  the  colony  rate.  Simon  Couch,  of  Bankside,  was  so 
much  aggrieved  because  the  lands,  which  had  been  expressly  stipulated  in 
the  agreement  of  1666  should  continue  in  the  possession  of  the  Bankside 
farmers,  were  included  in  the  dividend  lands,  that  he  brought  an  action 
against  the  town  for  his  rights  in  those  lands  from  his  father-in-law  Francis 
Andrews.  The  matter  was  referred  to  Nathan  Gold,  William  Hill  and 
John  Burr  to  settle  as  speedily  as  possible;  and  if  they  did  not  satisfy  the 
said  Simon  Couch,  he  was  given  liberty  to  present  his  case  to  the  next 
October  session  of  the  Assembly.  Jeremiah  Adams  gave  his  note  of  105. 
to  pay  for  presenting  this  petition. 

Richard  Osborn,  of  Fairfield,  was  granted  "  eighty  acres  of  land  for  his 
good  services  in  the  Pequot  war." 

John  Banks  and  seven  others  belonging  to  the  neighboring  plantations, 
were  granted  liberty  to  purchase  lands  of  the  Indians,  provided  such  pur- 
chases were  at  the  disposal  of  the  Ge/ieral  Assembly,  upon  the  said  gentle- 
men being  duly  remunerated. 

The  governor,  deputy-governor  and  the  assistants  of  the  Assembly, 
"  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  code  of  laws  prepared  by 
Roger  Ludlow  in  1650,  &  revise  them  for  publication."  The  assistants  at 
the  seaside  were  particularly  mentioned  in  this  order.  The  towns  were 
ordered  "to  pay  for  the  hire  of  their  deputies  horses,"  while  attending  the 
General  Assembly.  The  third  Wednesday  in  June  was  appointed  a  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer. 

Upon  the  return  of  the  magistrates  from  the  General  Assembly,  a  town 
meeting  was  held  on  the  I4th  of  June,  when  it  was  voted  to  divide  the 

*  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  43. 


l6o  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1672 

lands  at  Compo  neck  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  who  owned 
taxable  estates.  John  Banks,  Cornelius  Hull,  and  Francis  Bradley  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  examine  and  make  report  of  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  lands  at  Compo. 

John  Banks  was  chosen  an  attorney  to  defend  the  town,  with  liberty 
to  employ  one  or  more  attorneys  under  him,  at  the  October  term  of  the 
Assembly,  against  the  suit  of  Simon  Couch.  It  was  voted  that  ten  pounds 
annually  should  be  spent  in  stubbing  and  ditching  the  parsonage  grounds. 
John  Wheeler  and  Samuel  Morehouse  were  "appointed  husbands  of  this 
work."  The  valuation  of  the  list  of  estates  this  year  at  Fairfield  amounted 
to  ^9,967.  A  penny  farthing  was  levied  upon  all  estates  for  the  colony 
expenses,  to  be  paid  in  one-third  each  of  peas,  Indian  corn  and  wheat. 
The  first  Wednesday  in  November  was  set  apart  a  day  of  general  thanks- 
giving, specially  for  the  restoration  of  health,  peace  in  the  colony,  and 
"  for  the  peace  as  yet,  through  the  goodness  of  God,  enjoyed  in  their 
native  country." 

On  account  of  several  persons  having  expressed  dissatisfaction  with 
their  building  dividends,  it  was  voted  January  3ist,  that  such  persons 
should  return  these  dividends  to  the  town,  and  in  lieu  of  them  they  were 
granted  the  same  proportion  of  lands  in  the  rear  of  these  dividends  in  the 
half  mile  of  common,  provided  there  should  be  laid  out  "a  highway 
twenty  rods  broad,"  between  the  half  mile  of  common  and  the  Long-lots  ; 
and  eight  score  rods  between  them  and  the  former  building  dividend. 
Sergeant  John  Banks,  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Seeley,  and  Cornelius  Hull 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  these  lots,  and  also  such  highways 
between  them  as  they  deemed  necessary.* 

It  was  found,  however,  that  even  this  change  did  not  satisfy  all.  It 
was  therefore  voted,  after  those  who  "  slipped  or  jumped  their  lots  were 
first  served,  &  the  highways  had  been  staked  out,  that  others  upon  giving 
up  their  present  building  dividends  should  also  receive  shares  in  the  Half 
Mile  of  Common."  John  Banks,  Robert  Rumsey,  Daniel  Lockwood,  Jehu 
Burr,  Nathaniel  Burr,  Obediah  Gilbert  and  Thomas  Morehouse,  were  the 
first  who  received  the  benefit  of  this  last  order. 

Major  Gold,  John  Burr  and  William  Hill  were  appointed  to  settle  the 
claims  of  Simon  Couch  and  John  Smith  "  to  a  lawful  share  in  the  land 
dividends,  &  to  allow  each,  such  a  proportion  of  lands  as  they  judged  to 
be  right,"  with  the  proviso,  "that  they  were  not  to  receive  any  more 
than  they  were  entitled  to  according  to  their  rateable  estates."  Those 
who  lived  on  the  east  end  of  the  town  were  to  have  lots  set  out  to  them 

*  B,  Town  Votes,  p  45. 


1672]  AN    INTERESTING   DECADE  l6l 

within  the  east  limits  of  the  half  mile  common  ;  and  those  on  the  west 
side  were  to  be  served  in  the  same  way,  allowing  a  twenty  rod  highway 
between  them  and  the  Long-lots,  and  a  ten  instead  of  an  eight-rod  high- 
way  between  them  and  the  building  lots  dividend.  Sergeant  Nathaniel 
Seeley,  Cornelius  Hull  and  John  Wheeler,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
lay  out  these  lots. 

On  the  1 5th  of  February,  Sergeant  John  Banks,  Henry  Jackson  and 
Thomas  Staples  were  ordered  "  to  decisively  settle  the  bounds  of  the  tier 
of  lots  over  against  James  Rennet's,  on  the  other  side  of  Uncoa  creek." 
An  immediate  division  of  the  Compo  lands  was  ordered  to  be  made, 
against  which  "Captain  Nathan  Gold  protested."  The  townsmen,  how- 
ever, remained  firm  in  their  determination  to  claim  and  divide  the  said 
lands,  and  appointed  Sergeant  John  Banks  and  Francis  Bradley  to  lay 
out  and  settle  all  the  necessary  highways  in  Compo  neck.  Mr.  Jehu  Burr 
and  his  brother  John  Burr,  were  appointed  to  settle  a  long  controversy 
between  the  town  and  the  proprietors  of  the  home  lots,  lying  against  the 
great  meadow  before  the  town,  according  to  a  vote  of  the  major  part  of 
the  townsmen.  On  the  28th  of  February  the  committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  lands  at  Compo  neck  made  a  report  of  "about  300  acres  of 
good  land,  &  300  of  worse  land."  It  was  immediately  to  be  divided  in  two 
dividends,  which  were  to  run  as  follows: 

"  Ist  At  ye  Island,  ye  Lots  to  begin  there  att  ye  South  End,  ye  divisible  land  is  5  acres. 
2nd  ye  pine  plane  beginning  at  yc  beach,  ye  first  Lots  to  Run  by  ye  beach  and  So  onto 
ye  high  way  yl  runs  to  ye  Island,  and  fronts  upon  an  highway  running  along  by  ye  pound. 

3rd  Tear  fronting  against  yc  Great  high  way  y*  runs  from  ye  Sea-beach  up  to  yc  Rocks 
att  ye  little  ponds,  ye  lots  to  run  over  ye  hills  to  yc  high  way  at  ye  hazekee  meadow  and 
over  ye Swamp  yl  Runs  to  yc  muddy  Creek,  and  yc  meer  Swamp  to  be  accounted  meas- 
ure, and  also  upon  y°  high  way  running  from  ye  Swamp  to  Compo  Creek's  mouih  : 
ye  Lots  to  begin  by  ye  high  way  by  y'Sea,  and  So  on  northward  till  they  come  up  to 
ye  Rocks  and  yc  great  Swamp  there  is,  an  high  way  runs  across  two  rods  wide  from 
ye  great  high  way  to  Compo  Creek's  mouth  under  ye  end  of  yc  hill.  4th  Tear  to  begin  at 
ye  North  End  of  a  piece  of  upland  y*  lies  on  y«  north  East  Side  of  hazeky  meadow,  ye  lots  to 
run  cross  ye  upland,  to  run  westerly  to  ye  mark'd  trees,  &  So  on  over  hazeky  meadow, 
butting  on  ye  rocks  upon  ye  north  west  End  &  on  yc  nortli  End,  and  So  to  run  on  ye  point 
of  Land  near  Dan'll  Frost  building  lot,  ye  lots  to  run  cross  y°  hill  to  ye  marked  trees  of 
Each  Side  of  yc  hill.  yc  lots  to  begin  att  yc  upper  End  of  ye  hill  next  Dan"  Frost  building 
lott,  and  So  on  untill  they  come  to  an  high  way  by  a  marsh,  ye  brow  of  yc  hill  of  Rocks  next 
ye  creek  is  not  to  be  valued  in  measure.  Ye  Second  Dividend  being  yc  Rock  Dividend,  is 
to  lye  on  both  Sides  of  yc  high  way  y'  Runs  from  ye  point  of  rocks  to  Handford  path,  and 
So  to  ye  Lots  to  run  back  from  ye  Said  high  way  as  ye  tear  hath  already  been  Surveyed  : 
yr  is  to  be  a  good  high  way  left  to  run  from  ye  great  high  way  to  Saugatuck  River,  £  to  lye 
between  M!  Wakeman's  farm  and  ye  Dividends.  ye  Comittee  is  to  leave  necessary  high 
ii 


l62  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1672 

wayes  for  M*  Wakeman  to  come  to  his  meadow.  ye  first  Lot  to  begin  next  ye  high  way 
y'  Runs  to  Saugatuck  River  by  M^  Wakeman's  farm,  and  So  ye  Lots  to  Run  northward  to 
yeend  of  ye  tear,  yr,  ye  lots  to  Run  on  ye  Tear  on  ye  other  side  of  ye  great  highway, 
beginning  northward  of  ye  Teer,  and  So  to  Run  Southward  to  ye  End  of  ye  Teer.  he  that 
begins  So  Successively  in  ye  first  Dividend  of  ye  good  Land,  must  also  So  begin  in  ye  Sec- 
ond Dividend  by  ye  high  way  by  Mr  Wakeman's  farm  and  So  on  northward  as  is  above 
ordered."* 

A  dividend  of  these  lands  was  made  on  the  28th  of  February,  to  the 
dividend  holders,  and  recorded  on  the  same  day.  An  interesting  record, 
called  the  pounder's  oath,  was  made  at  this  time,  which  shows  that  the 
young  fruit  trees  were  grown  in  fields,  and  held  in  common  by  the  towns- 
men. It  also  shows  the  care  exercised  in  the  healthy  growth  of  fruit  trees, 
which  had  been  brought  from  England,  or  raised  from  imported  inocula- 
tion, grafts,  pits  and  seeds. 

THE  POUNDER'S  OATH. 

You  A.  B.  being  Sworn  pounders  for  ye  Town  ot  Fairfield  for  ye  year  Ensuing,  and 
untill  new  be  chosen,  and  Sworn  into  your  work,  do  Either  of  you  for  your  Selves,  Swear 
by  ye  great  and  dreadfull  name  of  ye  Everliving  God,  y4  you  will  faithfully  perform  and 
Execute  ye  Offices  you  are  Chosen  to,  without  partiallity  to  any  man,  and  to  Spend  So 
much  time  in  ye  Executing  your  abovesaid  work  as  you  Shall  Judge  necessary  for  ye  pre- 
servation of  ye  fruits  of  ye  Corhon  fields.  So  help  you  God  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

At  the  May  court  of  election,  Major  Gold  was  continued  in  his  office 
of  assistant  of  the  General  Assembly;  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Wheeler  were 
chosen  deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  William  Hill  commissioners  for  Fair- 
field.  John  Banks  represented,  or  was  one  of  the  deputies  for  Rye  this 
year. 

John  Green  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  lay  necessary  high- 
ways at  Rye.  John  Burr  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to  lay  out  a  plan- 
tation north  of  Norwalk.  The  deputies  were  allowed  ten  shillings  extra 
apiece,  for  special  attendance  at  this  session  of  the  court,  to  examine  the 
code  of  laws  exhibited  for  publication.  The  governor  and  assistants  were 
appointed  to  prepare  a  preface  to  the  book.  Deputy  John  Wheeler  of 
Fairfield,  was  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  On  the  26th  of  June, 
the  General  Assembly  held  an  extra  session  at  Hartford,  to  take  into  con- 
sideration a  letter  sent  by  the  king  of  England  to  Governor  Winthrop, 
announcing  his  declaration  of  war  with  the  king  of  France  against  Hol- 
land, ordering  the  governor  and  council  of  Connecticut  to  send  out  a  proc- 
lamation of  war  against  the  Dutch  in  America ;  and  to  capture  all  ships 

*Vote  of  Jan.  31,  1672.      B,  Town  Votes,  p.  46. 


1672]  AN  INTERESTING  DECADE  163 

of  merchandise  belonging  to  the  States  General.  They  were  also  notified 
that  a  fleet  of  ships  was  being  made  ready  to  prey  upon  the  commerce 
of  the  West  Indies,  and  the  English  colonies  in  America ;  for  which  rea- 
son, they  were  advised  to  provide  for  the  safety  and  defense  of  the  ships 
and  vessels  lying  in  their  harbors ;  that  all  ships  leaving  the  ports  should 
sail  in  numbers  for  security,  and  be  commanded  by  experienced  officers. 
They  were  to  submit  to  all  orders  and  directions  which  they  should 
receive,  from  time  to  time,  from  the  Duke  of  York,  who  had  been  granted 
letters  of  marque  and  general  reprisal  against  subjects,  ships,  goods,  etc., 
belonging  to  Holland.  This  letter  according  to  direction  was  immediately 
sent  to  Massachusetts.* 

The  triple  alliance  of  England,  Holland  and  Sweden  (January  13,  1668) 
had  never  been  pleasing  to  the  king  of  England.  Through  the  influence 
of  his  sister,  the  Duchess  of  Orleans,  he  had  most  disgracefully  entered 
into  a  secret  treaty  at  Dover  on  the  22d  of  May,  1670,  to  make  a  public 
profession  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  to  join  the  French  king  in 
a  war  against  Holland.  This  declaration  of  war  was  not  made,  however, 
until  the  i/th  of  March,  1672. 

The  English  colonies  in  the  West  Indies  and  America  were  grievously 
distressed  by  the  announcement  of  this  unjust  war,  which  had  been  antici- 
pated for  some  time.  The  General  Assembly  at  once  proceeded  to  place 
the  militia  and  troopers  in  the  towns,  in  readiness  for  active  service. 
Major  Gold  was  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  of  Fairficld  county, 
with  Captain  William  Curtis  of  Stratford  "his  second;"  and  with  Mr. 
Thomas  Fitch  of  Norwalk,  he  was  ordered  to  raise  a  sufficient  body  of 
troopers  in  Fairfield  and  its  vicinity  for  the  war,  which  should  number 
forty-four. 

For  months  the  colonies  were  in  constant  expectation  of  the  arrival  of 
a  Dutch  fleet,  and  the  greatest  excitement  prevailed.  Intelligence  had 
been  received  of  a  desperate  engagement  on  the  28th  of  May,  between  the 
Dutch  fleet  and  the  combined  English  and  French  fleet  in  Southwold  bay, 
off  the  coast  of  Suffolk;  and  of  the  victories  of  the  French  king  in  Hol- 
land. This  news  filled  them  with  gloomy  apprehensions  of  an  approach- 
ing war  nearer  home.  At  the  meeting  of  the  October  Assembly.  William 
Hill  and  John  Banks  were  each  granted  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  for  a  farm.  A  printed  copy  of  the  laws  of  the  colony  was  accepted 
by  the  Assembly,  and  an  order  issued  that  they  should  be  published  with- 
out delay  ;  and  that  every  family  in  the  colony  should  purchase  a  copy, 
to  be  paid  for  in  silver  or  wheat  to  the  constables.  The  price  of  a  book  in 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  559. 


164  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1673 

silver  was  \2d.,  or  a  peck  and  a  half  of  wheat,  or  in  peas  at  three  shillings 
a  bushel.  The  estates  at  Fairfield  this  year  were  valued  at  £10,209.  A 
tax  of  a  penny  farthing  on  the  pound  was  levied  for  the  expenses  of  the 
colony.  The  last  Thursday  in  October  was  appointed  a  day  of  thanksgiv- 
ing for  the  blessings  of  peace,  health  and  prosperity,  and  specially  for  a 
bountiful  supply  of  fruit. 

In  December  an  acre  of  land  was  voted  to  any  honest  blacksmith,  who 
would  settle  in  the  town.  Richard  Burgis  of  Boston  was  invited  to  fill  the 
place.  In  January,  Richard  Ogden  was  granted  liberty  to  erect  a  new 
mill  on  Mill  river,  near  the  old  mill  site.  Mill-hill  was  voted  to  remain 
a  common  forever.  On  the  3Oth  of  April,  Jehu  Burr,  Sergeant  John  Banks, 
and  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Seely,  were  appointed  to  examine  the  lands  of 
Wyantenuck  or  New  Milford,  and  to  report  to  the  town  if  it  was  a  suita- 
ble place  for  a  plantation.  At  the  May  court  of  election  Major  Gold  was 
elected  an  assistant  of  the  General  Assembly,  John  Burr  and  John  Banks 
deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  William  Kill  commissioners  for  Fairfield. 
Jehu  Burr  with  Captain  William  Curtis  of  Stratford,  was  appointed  to  lay 
out  to  Henry  Wakeley,  of  Fairfield,  eight  acres  of  land  granted  him  in  1669. 
A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  lay  out  the  land  granted  William  Hill, 
John  Banks,  and  John  Wheeler.  John  Banks  was  made  one  of  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  the  lands  of  Potatuck  or  Newtown,  with  a  view  of 
beginning  a  plantation  there. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  and  Jehu  Burr  were  each  granted  two 
hundred  acres  of  land.*  The  published  Connecticut  laws  were  brought 
into  the  Assembly,  and  after  accepting  the  same  maritime  laws  used  by 
Massachusetts,  it  was  ordered  that  the  seal  of  the  colony  should  be  affixed 
in  the  beginning  of  every  volume.  This  book  was  printed  early  in  the 
year,  and  was  entitled, 

"The  Book  of  the  General  Laws,  for  the  People  within  the  Jurisdiction  of  Connecticut, 
lately  revised,  &  with  some  Emendations  &  Additions,  Established  &  Published  by  the 
Authority  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut  in  Oct.  1672.  Romans  13.  I,  2.  Let 
every  soul  be  subject  to  the  Higher  Powers  ;  for  there  is  no  Power  but  of  God,  the  Powers 
that  be  are  Ordained  of  God.  Whosoever,  therefore,  resisteth  the  Power  resisteth  the 
Ordinance  of  God  :  &  they  that  resist,  shall  receive  to  themselves  Damnation.  

Cambridge  :  Printed  by  Samuel  Green,  1673.'' 

The  Preface  is  headed  "  To  our  Beloved  Brethren  &  Neighbors,  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  The  General  Court  of  that 
Colony,  with  Grace  &  Peace  from  our  Lord  Jesus."  It  recognizes  the 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  200. 


1673]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  165 

necessity  of  establishing  wholesome  laws  for  the  regulation  of  each  body 
politic,  "mainly  in  obedience  unto  Jehovah,  the  Great  Law-giver:  who 
hath  been  pleased  to  set  down  a  Divine  Platform,  not  only  for  the  moral, 
but  also  for  Judicial  laws  suitable  for  the  people  of  Israel  "..."&  also 
in  Conformity  to  the  manifest  pleasure  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  in 
his  Majestie's  Gracious  Charter  .  .  .  notwithstanding  the  exceeding  great 
difficulty  of  the  Work,  Looking  up  to  God  for  wisdom  &  strength  to 
engage  in  the  solemn  service"  .  .  .  "that  pure  religion  &  undefiled  before 
God,  according  to  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  may  be  main- 
tained among  us,  which  was  the  end  of  the  first  planters,  who  settled  the 
Foundations,  &  ought  to  be  the  endeavours  of  those  that  shall  succeed, 
to  Uphold  &  Encourage  unto  all  Generations."  It  concluded  with  the 
words  of  the  Apostle,  "  I  Peter  2.  13,  17.  Submit  yourselves  to  every 
Ordinance  of  man  for  the  Lord's  sake,  &c. ;  Love  the  Brotherhood,  Fear 
God,  Honor  the  King." 

The  book  is  a  thin  folio  volume  of  71  pages  besides  the  preface,  with  a 
table  of  blank  leaves  at  the  end,  upon  which  laws  enacted  after  its  pub- 
lication were  written  until  1699,  when  the  leaves  were  filled  up.  A  few 
only  of  these  books  are  now  extant,  and  are  great  curiosities.*  The  last 
Wednesday  of  May  was  appointed  a  day  of  public  fasting  and  prayer  in 
all  the  churches.  Great  alarm  prevailed  at  this  time  throughout  the 
country.  Colonel  Francis  Lovelace,  who  had  succeeded  Colonel  Nichols 
at  New  York,  and  who  had  been  occupied  during  the  winter  assisting 
Governor  Winthrop  in  establishing  an  overland  mail  to  Boston,  reported 
to  Winthrop  that  forty  well  equipped  Dutch  men-of-war  had  sailed  from 
Holland  for  the  West  Indies.  "  It  is  high  time,"  he  wrote,  "  that  we 
buckle  on  our  arms."  In  the  month  of  March,  while  Lovelace  was  on  a 
visit  to  the  manor  of  Thomas  Pell,  at  Pellham,  to  consult  with  him  about 
the  new  postal  route,  he  was  hastily  summoned  home,  on  account  of  an  ap- 
pearance of  the  supposed  Dutch  fleet  off  Sandy  Hook.  He  returned  to  the 
city  without  delay,  and  garrisoned  the  fort  with  recruits  ;  but,  as  the  alarm 
proved  false,  in  May  he  disbanded  all  but  about  eighty  of  the  garrison. 

Desiring  to  confer  further  with  Governor  Winthrop  in  reference  to  the 
new  postal  route,  he  set  out  on  the  2Oth  of  July  for  Hartford.  Only  a 
few  days  elapsed,  when  the  dreaded  Dutch  fleet  was  discovered  off  Sandy 
Hook.  Captain  John  Manning,  who  had  been  left  in  command  of  the 

*Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  338.     Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  II.,  Note  15.  p.  567. 

The  laws  of  the  New  Haven  colony  were  published  in  England  in  1655.  In  June,  1656,  five 
hundred  copies  were  divided  among  the  several  towns  of  that  jurisdiction.  They  received  the 
Connecticut  laws  published  in  1673,  and  declared  them  to  be  the  "  Laws  of  the  Land." 


l66  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

fort,  sent  post  haste  for  the  governor  to  return  ;  but  the  warning,  this 
time,  came  too  late  for  the  inactive  Lovelace  to  render  any  effectual  pre- 
paration of  defense. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  August  a  sloop  arrived  at  Fairfield, 
having  onboard  eleven  Englishmen,  who  reported  that  they  had  taken  the 
sloop  from  a  Dutch  fleet  under  the  command  of  Admirals  Evertsen  and 
Binckes.  Some  of  them  were  taken  before  Major  Gold,  and  testified  that 
the  sloop  had  been  captured  by  the  Dutch  the  Saturday  previous,  and  that, 
while  at  anchor  on  the  Sabbath,  they  had  ventured  on  board,  and  finding 
only  two  Englishmen  in  charge,  "  they  forthwith  brought  her  away."  * 

On  the  8th,  two  men  from  Stamford  appeared  at  Fairfield  with  four 
seamen,  who  had  escaped  from  the  Dutch  fleet.  One  of  them,  who  was 
a  corporal,  reported  that  on  Monday  (the  2gth)  the  Dutch  fleet  appeared 
off  Sandy  Hook,  and  on  Tuesday  came  to  anchor  under  Staten  Island.  On 
Wednesday  they  sailed  up  into  the  Hudson  river  and  anchored  before  the 
fort,  but  that  an  attack  was  not  made  for  the  space  of  half  an  hour,  when 
the  fleet  discharged  their  broadsides  into  the  fort,  killing  some  and  wound- 
ing others;  that  the  fort  returned  fire;  but  as  Captain  Manning  saw  it 
was  impossible  to  withstand  such  an  attack,  the  flag  of  the  fort  was  taken 
down,  although  eight  hundred  recruits  were  at  that  moment  landing  on 
the  river's  bank,  in  the  rear  of  the  Governor's  orchard  ;  f  that  the  enemy 
entered  an  open  gate  of  the  fort,  while  the  besieged  soldiers  marched  out 
of  another  gate  with  their  arms  and  their  colors  flying,  and  laid  them 
down.  They  were  then  commanded  to  return  into  the  fort,  and  committed 
to  prison  in  the  church,  and  afterwards  sent  on  board  the  ships.  He 
further  stated  that  he  saw  Governor  Lovelace  and  Justice  Cornwall  on 
Long  Island  with  Captain  Nichols.  He  reported  but  seven  ships  in  the 
Dutch  fleet,  "three  Amsterdam  men  &  four  Zealanders."  The  rest  of 
the  vessels  were  prizes  taken  in  the  West  Indies  and  at  Virginia.  He 
thought  they  numbered  about  sixteen  hundred  men.  The  boatswain  of 
one  of  Mr.  Mullin's  ships  which  had  been  captured,  stated  that  they  were 
taken  on  the  last  day  of  July  by  two  pinnaces,  having  on  board  about 
forty  men  ;  and  that  he  was  detained  on  board  the  admiral's  ship  twenty- 
four  hours,  to  give  an  account  of  what  was  in  the  ship  :  and  soon  after  got 
on  shore  above  two  islands  in  the  East  River,  called  the  Twin  Brothers, 
immediately  south  of  Westchester.  He  further  reported  that  the  Dutch 
intended  to  go  up  to  Fort  Albany  with  a  small  frigate  and  two  pinnaces — 
and  about  two  hundred  men. 

•"-  Doct.  Hist.  New  York,  Vol.  III.,  p.  200. 

\  At  the  present  day  in  the  rear  of  Trinity  Church  on  Broadway. 


1673]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  1 67 

Two  Virginians  who  came  in  the  fleet  to  New  York,  from  which  they 
made  their  escape,  reported  that  when  the  English  vessels  guarding  the 
entrance  to  the  bay  saw  the  Dutch  fleet  approaching,  they  supposed  them 
to  be  English  vessels  coming  to  convey  them  home ;  but  being  so  unex- 
pectedly surprised  several  of  them  were  captured,  eight  were  burned,  and 
the  rest  escaped  into  the  creeks  and  by  places.  He  said  that  Captain 
Samuel  Davis,  the  captain  of  a  sloop  which  had  been  taken  at  Virginia, 
was  examined  by  one  of  the  Dutch  generals,  and  told  that  if  he  would 
state  the  truth  about  the  condition  of  affairs  at  New  York,  he  would  give 
him  his  cargo  again.  The  said  sloop-master  replied,  that  in  three  hours 
Governor  Lovelace  could  raise  five  hundred  men  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pieces  of  ordnance,  mounted  and  fit  for  service  on  the  walls  of  the 
fort.  Then  said  the  Dutch  general,  "  I  will  give  you  your  sloop  &  cargo 
&  never  see  them."  Davis  then  told  him  that  he  thought  there  might  be 
about  sixty  or  eighty  men  in  the  fort ;  and  that  in  three  or  four  days,  they 
might  raise  thirty  or  thirty-six  pieces  of  ordnance  upon  the  walls,  and  that 
a  shot  or  two  would  shake  them  off  their  carriages.  "  Then  all  the  cry 
was  for  New  York,  to  which  place  they  came."  He  also  stated  that  the 
captain  stood  on  the  deck  and  saw  about  six  hundred  recruits  land  back 
of  the  Governor's  orchard  ;  and  that  out  of  the  six  hundred  there  were 
not  more  than  four  hundred  guns,  some  being  armed  with  pistols,  some 
with  swords,  and  others  with  half  pikes.  He  said  that  the  fleet  were  not 
privateers,  but  commissioned  by  the  States  General  to  prey  upon  the 
English  and  French  merchantmen,  and  that  they  had  brought  one  hun- 
dred Frenchmen  off  from  Surinam  and  burned  the  place. 

Another  of  the  four  reported  that  on  the  2d  of  August,  about  one 
o'clock,  he  saw  one  of  the  Dutch  generals  go  to  Long  Island  with  his 
Orange  flag  and  trumpet  to  Governor  Lovelace  ;  and  that  the  governor 
and  Captain  Nichols  were  conducted  (not  through  the  town)  but  straight 
into  the  castle.  He  further  stated  that  John  Selleck,  of  Stamford,  while 
on  his  way  to  Long  Island  in  a  small  catch,  was  captured. 

Soon  after,  one  Mr.  Gibs,  who  was  in  Fort  James  during  the  engage- 
ment, appeared  before  Major  Gold  and  reported  the  full  particulars  of  the 
taking  of  the  fort.*  Major  Gold  dispatched  Captain  John  Selleck  f  of 
Stamford,  who  had  made  his  escape  from  the  Dutch,  to  Governor  Win- 
throp,  with  a  letter  containing  the  above  affidavits.  He  also  added  that 
Selleck  would  tell  him  the  full  particulars  of  the  engagement  at  New 
York,  as  he  had  learned  them  from  Mr.  Gibs.  He  also  notified  him  that 

*Doct.  Hist.   New  York,  Vol.  III.,  p.  200. 

f  A  rich  and  enterprising  captain  of  a  ship  sailing  to  England. — Savage's  Gen.  Dictionary. 


1 68  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1673 

the  Dutch  had  summoned  the  towns  on  the  west  end  of  Long  Island  to 
surrender  in  two  days,  and  those  on  the  east  end  in  three  days  ;  and  that 
if  they  did  not  submit,  they  would  be  reduced  "  by  prevailing  power."  * 

Fort  James  had  indeed  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch  on  the  3Oth 
of  July.  Its  name  was  changed  to  that  of  Fort  William  Hendrick  in 
honor  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  The  province  was  again  named  the  New 
Netherlands  ;  but  changed  in  a  few  days  to  New  Orange.  Anthony  Colve 
was  made  a  temporary  governor,  and  left  with  two  ships  of  war  for  pro- 
tection. Evertsen  sailed  with  a  part  of  the  fleet  for  the  West  Indies, 
and  Binckes  with  the  other  ships  returned  to  Holland.  The  towns  on 
Long  Island,  and  in  Delaware  and  New  Jersey  were  immediately  claimed 
and  brought  under  the  Dutch  jurisdiction. 

An  extraordinary  session  of  the  General  Assembly  was  summoned  at 
Hartford  on  the  /th  of  August,  to  take  speedy  measures  for  the  safety 
and  defense  of  the  colony.  A  committee  consisting  of  the  governor, 
deputy-governor  and  several  assistants,  was  appointed  to  commission 
military  officers  for  pressing  men,  horses,  vessels,  arms,  and  all  other  neces- 
saries of  defense;  and  to  manage  and  dispose  of  the  militia.  Five  hun- 
dred dragoons  were  ordered  to  be  raised  without  delay,  and  fitted  for  ser- 
vice ;  out  of  which,  one  hundred  and  twenty  were  to  be  raised  in  Fairfield 
county.  The  military  officers  in  each  plantation  were  ordered  to  summon 
out  the  militia,  and  fit  them  for  active  service  to  move  in  an  hour's 
warning.f 

Major  Gold  was  again  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  troops  and 
militia  in  Fairfield  county,  Thomas  Fitch  of  Norwalk,  captain,  Jehu 
Burr,  lieutenant,  and  Mathew  Sherwood  of  Fairfield,  ensign,  for  the  troop- 
ers of  the  county.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  carry  a  letter  from  the 
governor  and  Assembly  to  the  commander-in-chief  at  the  Manhadoes, 
"  to  receive  their  answer  &  to  learn  what  their  intentions  are."  Neither 
Major  Gold  nor  deputies  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  were  present  at  this 
Assembly.  The  inhabitants  no  doubt  were  almost  as  panic  stricken  as 
they  were  in  1653,  when  the  formidable  fleet  which  cast  anchor  in  Black 
Rock  channel  gave  them  reason  to  anticipate  a  like  visitation.  With  fair 
winds  the  Dutch  vessels  could  reach  Fairfield  in  the  course  of  twelve 
hours. 

The  Assembly  met  again  on  the  iith  of  August.  The  grand  com- 
mittee on  war  ordered  the  constables  in  each  town  to  assist  the  chief  com- 
manders of  the  train-bands  to  choose  suitable  persons  to  fill  the  ranks  of 
the  troopers  and  military  companies.  The  sergeants  and  inferior  officers 

*Doct.    Hist.  New  York,  Vol.  III.,  p.  203.          f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.  II.,  203-206. 


i673j  AN    INTERESTING    DECADE  169 

were  appointed  by  the  county  majors.  The  proportion  of  dragoons  to  be 
raised  in  the  county  were  :  "  from  Fairfield,  thirty-eight  ;  Stratford,  thirty- 
three;  Stamford,  twenty-four ;  Greenwich,  eight  ;  and  Norwalk,  seventeen." 
Rye,  being  near  the  enemy,  was  excused.  The  following  orders  were  also 
issued:  that  each  dragoon  should  be  fitted  out  with  a  sword  and  belt,  a 
serviceable  musket  or  carbine,  shot-pouch,  one  pound  of  powder,  three 
pounds  of  bullets  or  pistol  bullets,  a  half  pike,  and  a  horse  to  expedite 
their  march.  Every  place  assaulted  was  given  liberty  to  call  in  assistance 
from  the  other  surrounding  towns  and  counties,  for  whom  they  were  to 
provide  quarters.  The  clerks  were  to  send  a  copy  of  these  instructions  to 
each  town  in  their  respective  counties.  The  committee  agreed  to  meet 
every  day  when  the  sun  was  about  two  hours  high,  until  further  orders 
were  given.* 

At  the  sitting  of  the  General  Assembly  on  the  gth  of  October,  John 
Banks  was  the  sole  representative  present  from  Fairfield.  The  constables 
in  each  town  were  ordered  to  publish  or  read  aloud  before  the  townsmen, 
the  newly  published  Book  of  Laws,  any  time  before  the  last  of  December, 
and  from  the  date  of  this  reading  they  were  to  be  in  full  force  and  virtue. 
The  first  Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  a  public  thanksgiving 
throughout  the  colony.  The  churches  were  also  recommended  .to  set 
apart  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  the  winter  season,  that  they  might 
"  earnestly  implore  the  Lord  to  maintain  his  own  cause  &  the  interests 
of  his  people  throughout  the  world  in  general,  and  particularly  our  own 
country." 

The  governor  and  those  of  the  assistants  present  were  authorized  to 
prepare  a  letter  for  Governor  Colve,  which  John  Banks,  of  Fairfield,  was 
appointed  to  carry.  The  letter  contained  a  remonstrance  against  the 
Dutch  interfering  with  the  government  of  the  English  plantations  'on 
Long  Island,  and  stated  that  if  they  continued  to  molest  his  Majesty's 
towns,  the  English  would  rise,  "  &  deal,  not  with  the  poor  peasants  of 
these  towns,  but  with  the  Dutch  head  quarters."  The  letter  closed  as  fol- 
lows:  "Mr.  John  Banks  is  our  messenger  by  whom  we  send  these,  who 
can  further  inform  you  how  tender  we  are  of  effusion  of  Christian  blood, 
yet  cannot  but  resent  with  great  indignation,  if  any  malicious  oppression 
shall  be  forced  upon  our  dear  neighbors,  his  Majestie's  good  subjects." 

No  sooner  did  John  Banks  present  this  letter,  than  he  was  put  under 
restraint  by  Governor  Colve  for  fifteen  days.  Upon  his  return  he  repre- 
sented Governor  Colve  to  be  a  passionate  man  of  insolent  spirit,  who  was 
very  unpopular  among  the  people  and  soldiers  ;  and  that  he  was  expecting 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  207,  208. 


I/O  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1673 

the  arrival  of  forces  from  Holland,  with  which  he  threatened  not  only  to 
subdue  all  the  towns  on  Long  Island,  "  but  that  he  might  have  Hartford 
before  long." 

Meanwhile  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield  continued  their  work  of  attend- 
ing to  the  necessary  improvements  of  the  town.  On  the  22d  of  October 
it  was  voted,  that  a  fence  should  be  built  on  the  Sound  from  Mill  river  to 
Paul's  neck.  This  fence  was  soon  after  erected,  and  inclosed  the  farmers' 
lands  on  the  beach  from  McKenzie's  point,  all  the  way  around  Pine  creek 
and  the  great  meadow  before  the  town,  to  the  hassocks  on  the  east  of 
Paul's  neck.  A  highway  lay  between  this  fence  and  the  beach,  shaded  on 
both  sides  by  tall  beech  trees.* 

Another  committee  was  also  appointed  to  settle  the  bounds  of  the  horse 
pasture  at  Maxumux  among  its  several  owners.  The  General  Assembly 
met  again  at  Hartford  on  the  26th  of  November.  Major  Nathan  Gold 
appeared  before  the  council  on  war,  and  informed  them  that  "  news 
had  been  received  at  Fairfield,  by  a  post  from  Rye,  that  five  vessels, 
supposed  to  be  the  Snow  &  four  catches  taken  as  prizes,  had  passed  by 
Rye  on  their  way  westward."  At  this  announcement,  war  was  imme- 
diately proclaimed  against  the  Dutch.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  Massa- 
chusetts to  counsel  with  them  about  assisting  to  carry  on  the  war.  A 
county  muster-master  was  appointed  to  examine  the  common  stock  of 
ammunition  in  the  towns,  as  well  as  the  arms  and  military  equipments 
of  the  militia  once  a  year.  He  was  also  to  give  notice  to  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  their  condition,  and  at  his  convenience  to  assemble  the  troopers 
and  footmen  before  him,  for  an  inspection  of  their  arms,  etc.  For  his  ser- 
vices he  was  to  be  paid  six  shillings  eight  pence  per  day.  If  any  one  was 
found  unable  to  supply  himself  with  arms,  the  town  in  which  he  lived  was 
to  furnish  him  until  he  was  able  to  repay  the  obligation.  Lieutenant 
Richard  Olmstead  was  appointed  muster-master  for  Fairfield  county, 
Major  John  Talcott  was  appointed  commarider-in-chief  of  the  military 
forces  to  be  sent  against  New  York,  Major  Robert  Treat  of  Milford, 
second  commander,  and  Captain  William  Curtis  of  Stratford,  captain  of 
the  Fairfield  county  forces.  Mr.  Thomas  Trowbridge  of  New  Haven 
was  made  commissary  of  the  expedition.  The  public  rate  was  raised  to 
two  pence  half-penny  on  the  pound,  on  all  ratable  estates  in  the  colony, 
to  assist  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  war.  The  towns  on  Long  Island 
had  already  been  furnished  with  men  and  arms  for  their  protection,  the 
Dutch  governor  having  threatened  them  "  with  destruction  by  fire  & 

*  Testimony  of  Captain  Ephraim  Burr,  of  Fairfield,  1882.  A  considerable  extent  of  this  high- 
way still  exists. 


1674]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  I /I 

sword,"  unless  they  would  submit  and  swear  allegiance  to  the  States  Gen- 
eral. Several  attempts  were  made  by  the  Dutch  to  reduce  them,  but  they 
were  driven  off  with  the  assistance  of  the  Connecticut  reinforcements. 
Winter  set  in  with  serious  apprehensions  on  the  part  of  both  the  English 
and  Dutch  of  early  hostilities  in  the  spring. 

The  townsmen  of  Fairfield  met  on  the  3d  of  February,  and  voted  that 
a  highway  two  rods  wide  should  be  laid  out  at  Greenlea,  between  the  Fair- 
field  and  Stratford  bounds,  to  run  from  below  the  widow  Wheeler's  house 
next  to  the  sea.  On  the  25th  of  February,  Thomas  Staples  and  Josiah 
Harvey  were  appointed  to  measure  and  builcl  fences  in  the  middle  field. 
The  vigilance  exercised  at  Fairfield,  and  the  excitement  consequent  upon 
preparing  an  army  to  march  against  the  Dutch,  with  constant  alarms  of  an 
invasion  by  sea  and  by  land,  made  the  winter  one  of  the  most  trying  that 
the  inhabitants  had  ever  experienced.  They  had  in  reality  far  more  to 
dread  from  a  general  rise  among  the  Indians  than  from  a  Dutch  invasion. 
The  greatest  possible  activity  had  been  exercised  in  equipping  a  body  of 
efficient  troopers  and  footmen.  The  whole  army  in  the  colony  amounted 
to  more  than  two  thousand  men,  one  quarter  of  which  were  well  mounted 
dragoons.  With  the  opening  of  spring,  however,  their  anxieties  and  fears 
were  relieved  by  the  glad  news,  that  on  the  Qth  of  February  peace  had 
been  once  more  established  between  England  and  Holland.  By  this  treaty 
all  things  were  restored  as  they  were  before  the  war.* 

At  the  assembling  of  the  May  court  of  election,  notice  of  the  peace 
between  England  and  Holland  was  formally  announced.  Samuel  Martin 
and  Jonathan  Sellick  were  sent  as  messengers  to  New  York  with  a  copy 
of  the  king's  proclamation  and  the  articles  of  peace. 

Governor  Winthrop  was  re-elected  and  William  Leet  made  deputy- 
governor.  Major  Gold  was  elected  an  assistant  of  the  General  Assembly 
at  the  May  election;  Jehu  and  John  Burr,  deputies,  and  William  Hill  and 
Mr.  Burr  commissioners  for  Fairfield.  Sergeant  Nathaniel  Seely  was 
appointed  in  the  place  of  William  Hill  to  lay  out  the  disputed  bounds 
of  Norwalk.  A  person,  called  a  hayward,  was  ordered  to  be  appointed 
in  each  town,  to  guard  the  hedges  and  fences ;  to  protect  horses,  cattle  and 
sheep,  and  to  impound  stray  cattle.  An  officer  was  also  appointed  in  each 
town  to  examine  merchantable  corn,  grain,  and  pork  sold  by  the  pound. 
The  clerks  of  the  train-bands  were  freed  from  watching  and  warding.  The 

*  The  treaty  was  brought  about  by  the  commons,  who  on  the  ?th  of  February,  1674,  maintained 
that  any  standing  force,  other  than  the  militia  "  was  grievous  to  the  nation  ;  "  in  consequence  of 
which  the  king  concluded  a  separate  treaty  with  the  Dutch  (Feb.  4,  1674),  but  still  kept  up  his 
connection  with  the  king  of  France. — Hume. 


1/2  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1674 

Rev.  Eliphalet  Jones  was  requested  "  to  take  the  paynes  to  dispence  the 
word  of  God  to  the  people  of  Rye,  once  a  fortnight  on  the  Lord's  Day 
until  October."  The  last  Wednesday  in  June  was  appointed  a  day  of  public 
thanksgiving.  In  October  Daniel  Burr  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to 
audit  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer  of  the  colony.  For  his  efficient  services 
during  the  past  year,  Major  Gold  was  granted  a  remittance  of  his  taxes  to 
the  colony.  The  next  general  training  days  were  appointed  first  at  New 
Haven,  second  at  New  London,  and  third  at  Fairfield.  It  was  also 
ordered  that  each  county  train-band  should  be  considered  the  oldest  com- 
pany, and  lead  in  their  regiments,  unless  the  major  had  a  particular  com- 
pany, in  which  case  his  company  was  given  the  privilege  of  leading  at  all 
general  musters. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  Connecticut,  great  attention 
had  been  paid  to  the  establishment  of  schools  in  every  town  in  the  colony. 
The  General  Court  granted  Fairfield  at  this  time,  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
for  a  grammar  school,  "  to  be  improved  in  the  best  way,  for  the  benefit 
of  such  a  school  &  to  no  other  use  or  end  whatever."*  This  order  was 
carried  out  by  the  townsmen  in  the  divisions  of  lands  from  time  to 
time.  The  effort  made  in  1670  to  pay  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman's  salary 
by  a  voluntary  contribution,  proved  an  unpleasant  matter  to  him.  Min- 
isters ruled  in  those  days,  and  their  maintenance  was  a  matter  of  honest 
debt  to  them,  and  not  a  deed  of  generosity  on  the  part  of  the  people.  The 
orthodox  way  of  regularly  taxing  the  whole  town,  no  matter  how  much 
any  one  inhabitant  might  differ  from  the  established  church  of  the  colony, 
was  the  lawful  mode  of  paying  this  debt,  which  Mr.  Wakeman  resolved 
should  be  carried  out.  He  had  no  idea  of  permitting  the  king's  ACT  OF 
UNIFORMITY,  or  the  TEST  ACT  passed  in  1673  f  to  creep  in  by  allowing  his 
salary  to  be  raised  by  voluntary  contribution. 

It  was  already  known  that  Sir  Edmond  Andross  had  been  appointed 
governor  of  New  York,  and  "  all  the  territories  lying  west  of  the  Conecti- 
cut  River."  From  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  New  England,  up 
to  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  never  had  the  advent  of  Episcopacy 
into  the  country  been  so  much  dreaded  by  the  New  England  people. 
Andross  was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  his  coming  to 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  176. 

f  The  TEST  ACT  was  passed  by  Parliament  to  prevent  political  power  being  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Papists  or  Dissenters.  It  provided  that  no  person  should  be  admitted  to  the  Kings'  or  Duke  of 
York's  households,  either  in  civil  or  military  affairs,  without  receiving  the  Lord's  Supper,  according 
to  the  usages  of  the  Church  of  England.  And  although  it  affected  Dissenters  as  well  as  Papists, 
the  Dissenters  favored  its  passage,  as  it  explicitly  denied  the  doctrine  of  transubstantiation  — 
Hume. 


1674]  AN  INTERESTING   DECADE  173 

America  was  regarded  as  an  occasion  of  great  danger  to  the  prosperity  of 
Congregationalism,  as  well  as  to  that  of  the  civil  government. 

Whether  an  effort  was  made  at  Fairfield  at  this  time  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  king's  Act  of  Uniformity  and  the  Test  Act  by  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  cannot  be  ascertained  ;  but  either  this  idea,  or  an 
effort  to  induce  Mr.  Wakeman  to  divide  his  salary  with  an  assistant  minis- 
ter, was  the  cause  of  the  trouble  which  had  existed ;  in  consequence  of 
which  he  appealed  to  the  General  Court  for  redress  at  the  October  session 
of  1674.  Upon  hearing  his  grievance,  the  court  appointed  Captain  John 
Allyn  of  Hartford,  James  Bishop  of  New  Haven,  and  Major  Robert  Treat 
of  Milford,  to  act  with  Major  Gold,  "  to  improve  their  best  endeavors  to 
settle  an  accommodation  between  the  people  &  minister  of  Fairfield,  that 
soe,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  Mr.  Wakeman  may  continue  in  his  work 
there."*  From  this  time  it  does  not  appear  that  any  further  trouble 
existed  on  this  subject. 

Mr.  Wakeman  proved  himself  fully  capable  of  conducting  the  affairs  of 
his  people  alone.  He  not  only  became  a  popular  minister,  but  also  one  of 
the  most  active  men  in  Connecticut,  in  all  the  leading  measures  taken  to 
settle  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  colony. 

Two  distinct  religious  parties  had  existed  in  New  England  from  the 
settlement  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  colony,  the  Separatists  and  the  Puri- 
tans. The  Separatists  or  Independents  adhered  to  the  congregational  mode 
of  worship,  while  the  Puritans  were  Presbyterians,  and  non-conformists 
of  the  Church  of  England.  The  Separatists  or  Congregationalists  held  to 
the  belief,  that  each  church  was  independent  in  its  government  from  all 
other  churches,  or  that  each  separate  church  was  a  distinct  body  in  itself. 
The  Presbyterian  element  among  the  Puritans,  believed  in  a  union  of 
churches,  and  a  fixed  method  of  church  government  which  should  control 
them  as  a  united  body.  The  Church  of  England  non-conformists  clung  to 
their  early  church  education  and  beliefs,  hoping  that  the  day  was  near  at 
hand  when  they  should  again  enjoy  its  ritual,  and  that  all  which  had  been 
offensive  to  them  in  the  mother-church,  would  be  done  away  with.  Hence, 
there  ever  continued  in  the  New  England  colonies  a  strong  opposition 
among  the  Puritans  against  the  congregational  mode  of  worship.  Many 
were  strongly  opposed  to  church  and  state,  or  to  any  one  church  becoming 
an  established  church  of  the  colonies,  and  uniting  with  the  civil  govern- 
ment in  controlling  the  consciences  of  individuals. 

John  Banks,  with  William  Curtis  of  Stratford,  was  appointed  to  lay  out 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Handford  of  Norwalk. 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  2_|o. 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

The  colony  tax  was  ordered  to  be  paid  in  wheat  at  4^.,  peas  at  3^.,  and  corn 
at  6d.  per  bushel,  or  pork  at  3^.  a  barrel,  when  corn  could  not  be  had. 
Estates  seized  to  pay  county  rates,  were  ordered  to  be  sold  at  an  outcry. 
John  Banks  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  run  a  boundary  line 
between  Connecticut  and  New  York,  from  the  Mamaroneck  to  the  Hudson 
river. 

Stringent  laws  were  passed  for  a  more  effectual  and  speedy  way  to 
carry  the  overland  mail  from  New  York  to  Boston.  Hartford  had  been 
made  the  central  point  for  perfecting  this  project;  and  from  the  1st  of 
January,  1673,  a  postman  was  dispatched  on  the  first  Monday  of  each 
month  from  New  York  to  Boston,  with  letters  and  small  packages  free  of 
postage.  In  order  to  prevent  postmen  from  loitering  at  taverns,  stated 
allowances  were  made  for  them  and  their  horses  from  Rye  to  Springfield, 
by  the  Assembly.* 

The  same  rates  were  used  between  the  towns.  From  the  middle  of 
October  to  the  last  of  April,  the  postman  was  granted  eight  pence  extra, 
for  every  night  spent  on  the  way  for  oats  for  his  horse.  The  inn-keepers 
were  ordered  to  take  great  pains,  that  the  horses  were  not  deprived  of  their 
allowance.  They  were  to  charge  at  the  rate  of  six  pence  a  meal  for  the 
postman,  four  pence  for  grass  for  a  horse,  and  the  same  for  oats  or  hay  for 
one  night.  A  fine  was  imposed  upon  any  one  who  detained  the  postman 
without  good  cause.  Mr.  John  Burr,  as  the  constable  of  Fairfield,  was  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  amount  due  Mr.  Green  for  the  printed  Colony  laws. 
The  last  Wednesday  in  October  was  appointed  a  general  thanksgiving 
day,  to  praise  God  for  his  mercy  to  the  English  nation,  in  so  signally  free- 
ing the  colony  from  the  imminent  danger  of  war  which  menaced  it ;  for 
the  peace  of  the  churches,  of  which  others  more  deserving  were  deprived  ; 
for  general  health  of  the  plantations,  and  for  an  abundant  harvest.  Thomas 
Morehouse  agreed  to  keep  a  gate  over  the  creek,  near  Concord  field. 

At  the  May  election,  Major  Gold  was  made  an  assistant  of  the  General 

*  Postman's  Hire.                       Horse  Hire. 

s.   d.  s. 

Rye                 to  Hartford 20         12 

Greenwich      "         "        17            10 

Stamford         "         "        17          10 

Norwalk         "         "        15         9 

Fairfield         "         "        13          8 

Stratford         "          "         12          7 

Milford            "          "           10          6 

New  Haven  "          "         86     5 

Wallingford  "                   6     4 


1675]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  175 

Court,  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  William 
Hill  commissioners  for  Fairfield.  Scarcely  had  tranquillity  been  restored 
in  the  colony,  when  a  still  greater  evil  threatened  the  country.  In  order 
to  establish  his  claims  in  America,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1674,  the  Duke  of 
York  took  out  a  new  patent  from  the  king  confirming  his  grant  of  1664, 
which  embraced  "all  the  lands  from  the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut 
River,  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  Bay."  Two  days  later  he  appointed 
Sir  Edmund  Andross  governor  of  New  York,  and  of  all  his  territories 
lying  west  of  the  Connecticut  river.  The  receipt  of  this  intelligence  pro- 
duced great  indignation  in  Connecticut  and  throughout  New  England. 
To  resist  this  injustice,  after  the  fair  promises  made  by  the  king,  and  by 
his  commissioners  ten  years  before,  became  at  once  the  leading  sentiment 
of  the  ministers  and  public  men  of  the  colony. 

Andros  arrived  in  New  York  four  months  after  his  appointment.  On 
the  first  of  May  following  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  governor  and 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  demanding  a  surrender  of  all  the  territory  west 
of  the  Connecticut,  and  submission  to  his  authority  as  the  lieutenant- 
governor  in  America  of  the  Duke  of  York's  possessions.  To  this  letter 
Governor  Winthrop  and  the  Assembly  replied,  refusing  to  acknowledge 
any  charter  or  government,  but  that  which  the  king  had  so  graciously 
granted  his  liege  subjects  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  In  their  great 
distress,  the  first  Wednesday  in  June  was  appointed  to  be  observed  as  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  to  seek  the  Lord  that  he  would  "stay  his 
hands;  give  them  a  heart  to  repent  of  the  sins  they  had  committed,  &  to 
return  unto  Him,  that  so  in  judgment  He  might  remember  mercy." 

Vigorous  measures  were  taken  to  make  a  strong  resistance  at  Fairfield. 
At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  I5th  of  May,  Richard  Hubbell  was  author- 
ized to  furnish  eight  hundred  weight  of  lead  within  three  months,  for  the 
use  of  the  magazine  in  the  town. 

John  Banks  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to  settle  the  boundaries 
of  Derby,  Woodbury,  Waterbury,  Newtown  and  New  Milford. 

The  law  requiring  a  freeman  to  be  possessed  of  twenty  pounds  real 
estate  was  changed,  so  that  the  requirement  became  ten  pounds. 

Another  grievous  trouble  fell  upon  the  colony  at  this  time.  It  was 
known  that  the  Indians  had  plotted  for  many  years  to  exterminate  the 
whites.  They  had  sold  them  their  lands,  and  by  treaties  acknowledged 
themselves  subjects  of  the  king  of  England  ;  but  they  regarded  themselves 
the  original  proprietors  of  the  country,  and  had  long  looked  with  a  jeal- 
ous eye  upon  the  English.  They  had  been  moved  from  one  reservation 
to  another,  the  white  man's  home  covering  the  hunting  grounds  and  lands 


176  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

where  their  wigwams  had  stood.  The  jealousy  of  a  savage  heart  dreamed 
of  no  other  way  of  relief  than  to  exterminate  a  people,  whom  they  both 
hated  and  feared.  Their  sachems,  once  free  to  conduct  their  own  wars, 
to  govern  their  subjects,  and  to  be  independent  of  any  rule,  chafed  under 
the  restraints  placed  upon  them.  The  jealousy  which  they  had  nursed 
for  years,  at  last  over-leaped  every  barrier,  and  the  colonies  in  New  Eng- 
land were  suddenly  plunged  into  a  most  cruel  and  disastrous  war.  The 
plot  to  exterminate  the  English,  was  revealed  by  a  Christian  Indian 
named  John  Sausaman.  He  was  once  a  subject  of  Philip,  sachem  of  the 
Wampanoags.  In  his  rage  Philip  caused  Sausaman  to  be  murdered. 
Not  long  after,  the  murderer  was  tried  and  executed  under  the  colonial 
laws.  Enraged,  guilty,  and  fearing  for  his  own  personal  safety,  Philip 
summoned  his  warriors  together,  and  passed  through  the  country  in  a 
hostile  manner,  calling  upon  other  tribes  to  join  him  in  exterminating  the 
whites. 

About  the  last  of  June,  Governor  Winthrop  was  notified  from  New 
London  and  Stonington  that  the  Indians  had  murdered  several  whites  in 
the  Plymouth  colony.  Fearing  an  attack,  they  begged  that  an  armed  force 
might  be  sent  without  delay,  to  protect  the  towns  lying  on  the  east 
borders  of  the  Connecticut  colony.  On  the  1st  of  July  Winthrop  dis- 
patched a  messenger  to  New  York,  asking  Governor  Anclros  to  join  in 
defending  the  English  settlements.  The  messenger  passed  through  Fair- 
field,  and  with  all  possible  speed  reached  New  York  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  4th. 

On  the  /th  Governor  Winthrop  received  a  reply  from  Governor 
Andros,  informing  him  that  he  should  hasten  his  coining  to  Connecticut, 
and  should  set  out  that  evening  with  an  armed  force,  to  assist  him  in 
settling  all  difficulties  within  the  bounds  of  his  royal  highness.  Without 
delay  Captain  Bull  was  dispatched  from  Hartford  to  Saybrook,  with 
instructions  to  defend  the  towns  on  the  seaboard  against  the  Indians,  as 
well  "as  to  ward  off  all  aggressions  from  any  quarter."  Meanwhile  Win- 
throp summoned  a  meeting  of  the  Assembly  on  the  Qth  at  Hartford.  On 
the  morning  of  the  8th,  Governor  Andros  arrived  off  Saybrook  with  an 
armed  force.  Wholly  ignorant  of  his  design,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
were  at  first  doubtful  whether  they  should  resist  or  allow  him  to  land. 
They  soon,  however,  recovered  from  the  shock  of  his  unexpected  appear- 
ance. The  fort  was  manned  and  the  militia  assembled  for  the  defense  cf 
the  town.  Captain  Bull  arrived  at  this  critical  moment,  and  gave  courage 
and  spirit  to  the  inhabitants  to  make  the  most  vigorous  resistance.  Dur- 
ing the  day  Captain  Nichols  with  two  other  gentlemen  was  sent  on  shore 


i675j  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  177 

to  offer  reinforcements  to  aid  in  protecting  the  town  from  the  Indians. 
Meanwhile  Robert  Chapman,  captain  of  the  militia,  dispatched  a  messen- 
ger to  Winthrop  for  instructions.  A  speedy  answer  was  returned  by  the 
governor  and  council  to  Captains  Bull  and  Chapman,  that  in  case  Governor 
Andros  should  attempt  to  land  with  his  friends  to  visit  the  fort,  he  should 
be  treated  with  courtesy.  "  But  they  were  to  forbid  his  attempting  to 
land  his  forces  under  arms."  They  were  also  instructed  to  raise  the 
English  flag  over  the  fort,  and  to  avoid  striking  the  first  blow  ;  but  if 
attacked  to  resist  in  his  Majesty's  name,  and  to  defend  themselves  as  best 
they  could,  for  their  own  interests  and  the  peace  of  the  colony.  They 
were  further  instructed  "  to  represent  to  Major  Andros  the  great  injury 
&  wrong  he  was  doing,  to  take  advantage  of  this  time  to  make  trouble 
among  the  king's  subjects."" 

The  Assembly  met  openly  on  the  morning  of  the  pth.  Major  Gold, 
deputies  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  were  present.  A  letter  which  had 
been  drawn  up  and  read  before  the  Assembly  was  immediately  dispatched 
to  Major  Andros,  protesting  against  his  landing  an  armed  force  in  any 
of  the  towns  in  the  jurisdiction,  and  threatening  to  inform  the  king  of  his 
ungracious  conduct,  "  not  fearing  but  that  he  would  grant  them  his  favor 
&  protection."  They  further  proceeded  to  draw  up  a  declaration  against 
the  intrusion  of  Andros  ;  and  to  command  all  the  good  people  in  the 
colony  utterly  to  refuse  to  attend,  countenance  or  obey  him  or  his  officers, 
in  the  following  words  : 

"Forasmuch  as  the  good  people  of  his  majesty's  colony  of  Connecticut,  have  met 
with  much  trouble  &  molestation  from  Major  Edmund  Andros,  his  challenge  &  attempts 
to  surprise  the  main  part  of  said  colony,  which  they  have  so  rightfully  obtained,  so  long 
possessed,  &  defended  against  all  invasions  of  Dutch  &  Indians,  to  the  great  grievance  of 
his  majesty's  good  subjects  in  their  settlements,  &  to  despoil  the  happy  government,  by 
charter  from  his  majesty  granted  to  themselves,  &  under  which  they  have  enjoyed  many 
halcyon  days  of  peace  &  tranquillity,  to  their  great  satisfaction,  &  to  the  content  of  his 
majesty,  graciously  expressed  by  letters  to  them,  so  greatly  engaging  their  loyalty  &  thank- 
fulness, as  makes  it  intolerable  to  be  put  off  from  so  long  &  just  settlement  under  his 
majesty's  government  by  charter.  Hereupon  for  the  prevention  of  misrepresentations 
into  England,  by  the  said  Major  Andros  against  us,  for  our  refusal,  &  withstanding  his 
attempts,  made  with  hostile  appearances  to  surprise  us  at  Saybrook,  while  we  were 
approaching  towards  a  savage  Indian  enemy,  that  had  committed  much  outrage  &  murder, 
by  fire  &  sword,  upon  our  neighbours  about  Plymouth  ;  this  court  have  desired  honorable 
John  Winthrop  &  James  Richards,  Esquires,  or  either  of  them,  (intending  a  voyage  to  Eng- 
land upon  their  own  occasions,)  to  take  with  them  the  narrative  &  copies  of  all  the  transac- 
tions betwixt  us,  &  to  give  a  right  understanding  for  clearing  our  innocence,  &  better 
securing  our  enjoyment  as  occasion  shall  offer." 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  334. 


178  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

It  was  voted  that  the  above  declaration  should  be  forthwith  sent  to  the 
several  plantations,  sealed  with  the  seal  of  the  colony,  and  signed  by  the 
secretary.  This  protest  was  also  dispatched  to  Captain  Bull,  with  instruc- 
tions to  counsel  with  Major  Andros,  and  to  invite  him  to  meet  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  united  colonies,  wherever  he  should  choose  within  the 
jurisdiction. 

The  Assembly  also  ordered  that  "  forces  should  be  sent  from  the  sea- 
side, by  the  governor  &  assistants  of  Fairfield  &  the  neighboring  towns." 

On  the  morning  of  the  I2th,  Major  Andros  requested  an  interview  on 
shore  with  the  ministers  and  principal  officers  of  Saybrook.  He  was 
permitted  to  land  with  his  officers,  about  the  time  that  the  messenger 
arrived  with  the  letter  and  protest  from  the  Assembly.  Captain  Bull,  with 
the  officers  of  the  fort  and  town,  and  the  principal  gentlemen  of  Saybrook, 
met  him  upon  his  landing,  and  informed  him  that  they  had  but  that 
instant  received  instructions  to  acquaint  him  that  the  Assembly  proposed 
he  should  meet  the  commissioners,  and  determine  the  controversy  accord- 
ing to  law  and  justice.  Andros  accepted  the  proposition  ;  but,  forthwith 
proceeded  to  order  that  the  Duke's  patent  and  his  commission  as  lieuten- 
ant-governor should  be  read.  Captain  Bull  commanded  him  to  desist  from 
any  such  reading.  Andros  ordered  his  clerk  to  read  as  he  had  directed. 
The  moment  his  clerk  attempted  to  read,  Bull,  with  great  energy  of  man- 
ner and  firmness  of  voice,  ordered  him  to  cease.  Struck  with  his  courage 
and  soldier-like  bearing,  Andros  asked  his  name.  "  My  name  is  Bull 
Sir,"  he  replied.  "  Bull,"  said  the  major,  "  It  is  a  pity  your  horns  are  not 
tipped  with  silver  !  "  Finding  that  the  brave  Bull  and  the  Assembly  were 
determined  to  resist  his  authority,  and  to  maintain  their  chartered  rights, 
Andros,  after  expressing  his  displeasure  at  the  rudeness  shown  to  him 
and  his  office,  and  the  ingratitude  exhibited  to  his  proffered  assistance 
against  the  Indians,  returned  to  his  vessel,  and  sailed  for  Long  Island.* 

Meanwhile,  on  the  5th  of  July,  intelligence  spread  through  the  colony 
that  the  people  of  Swanzey  and  Taunton  had  suffered  greatly  from  the 
murders  and  depredations  of  Philip's  warriors  ;  and  that  Massachusetts 
had  sent  four  hundred  men  to  their  relief.  This  was  followed  on  the  loth 
by  news  from  Massachusetts,  that  at  least  thirty  Englishmen  had  been 
murdered  at  Taunton. f  Through  the  Rev.  James  Fitch,  of  Norwich, 
Uncas  reported  that  the  Narragansetts  had  received  under  their  care  the 
women  and  children  of  Philip,  while  he  and  his  men  were  murdering  men, 
women  and  children,  and  plundering  the  settlements  in  Plymouth,  and 
Massachusetts.  Uncas  proffered  his  friendship  and  assistance  to  the  Eng- 
*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  583.  f  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  344,  346. 


1675]  AN   INTERESTING  DECADE  179 

lish,  in  consideration  of  which  Mr.  Fitch  recommended  the  Assembly  that 
his  faithfulness  should  be  amply  rewarded.  Fearing  the  hostile  Indians 
might  attack  the  towns  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  colony,  Captain  Wait 
Winthrop  was  sent  with  a  company  of  Connecticut  dragoons  to  join  Cap- 
tain Hutchinson,  into  the  Narragansett  country.  A  treaty  was  effected 
between  the  Narragansett  sachems  and  their  "sunk  squaw,"  or  old  queen, 
on  the  1 5th  of  July.  Forty  coats  were  offered  by  the  commissioners  to 
any  Indian  who  would  bring  in  Philip  alive,  and  twenty  for  his  head.  Two 
coats  were  pledged  for  every  subject  of  Philip's  brought  in  alive,  and  one 
for  each  head.  All  stolen  goods  were  to  be  returned.  Neither  Philip  nor 
any  of  his  subjects  were  to  be  harbored  by  the  Narragansetts  ;  and  if  they 
fell  into  their  hands,  they  promised  to  kill  or  destroy  them,  until  peace 
should  be  declared  between  Philip  and  the  united  colonies.  Perpetual 
peace  was  to  be  maintained  between  the  Narragansetts  and  the  English. 
In  order  to  cement  this  treaty,  hostages  were  exacted  of  the  Narragansetts. 

On  the  1 8th  of  July,  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces  attacked 
Philip  and  his  warriors  in  a  swamp  at  Pocasset.  The  Indians  sought 
refuge  in  a  forest,  and  the  English,  following  them  closely,  were  drawn 
into  such  a  dense  thicket  that  it  was  difficult,  as  night  approached,  to  dis. 
tinguish  their  comrades  from  the  enemy.  Every  moving  bush  received  a 
volley  of  shot.  Philip's  men  were  reduced  to  great  distress,  and  were 
upon  the  point  of  surrender,  but  fearing  their  fate,  made  a  bold  escape. 
Sixteen  brave  Englishmen  were  killed.  Philip  collected  fresh  men,  and 
retired  into  a  swampy  neck  of  land,  from  which  he  could  not  have 
retreated  without  fighting  his  way  through  the  English  army.  There  is 
no  doubt,  if  he  had  been  followed  up  in  this  situation,  he  might  have  been 
conquered  and  peace  been  established;  but,  unfortunately,  a  few  compa- 
nies were  left  to  guard  the  swamp,  and  subdue  the  savages  by  starvation. 
About  six  or  eight  days  after,  cither  by  wading  across  an  arm  of  the  sea, 
or  passing  over  on  rafts,  he  and  his  army  escaped  from  the  swamp. 
Emboldened  by  this  escape,  he  enlisted  all  the  Indians  "  for  an  extent  of 
nearly  three  hundred  miles,"  to  rise  and  assist  him  in  his  savage  work. 

Acquainted  with  the  customs  of  the  English,  their  dwellings,  roads, 
times  of  meeting  at  church,  and  the  annual  elections,  the  Indians  were  on 
the  alert  upon  every  unguarded  moment  to  massacre  the  whites,  and  to 
burn  and  plunder  their  dwellings.  They  skulked  in  the  uncleared  forests 
which  surrounded  them,  or  concealed  themselves  in  the  darkness  of  night 
in  the  barns  and  out-houses  of  the  planters,  whom  they  murdered  at  their 
doors  when  opened  in  the  morning.  If  attacked  in  one  quarter,  they  fell 
upon  another,  and  carried  on  their  inhuman  barbarities,  after  which  they 


180  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

retired  into  the  forests,  where  it  was  difficult  to  pursue  or  attack  them. 
The  frontier  towns  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  and  Rhode  Island,  suffered 
greatly  from  these  attacks.  Whole  families  were  murdered,  and  villages 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  village  of  Brookfield  was  burned  on  the  2d  of 
August.  In  September,  Hadley,  Deerfield,  and  Northfield,  on  the  Con- 
necticut river,  were  attacked.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  were  killed,  and 
valuable  property  burned  or  destroyed.  On  the  1 2th  of  September,  Cap- 
tain Beers  was  surprised  near  Northfield,  and  twenty  of  his  men  killed. 
On  the  i8th,  Captain  Lothrop,  with  a  choice  body  of  young  men  from 
Essex  county,  was  attacked  near  Deerfield,  and,  being  overwhelmed,  were 
nearly  all  cut  off.  Captain  Mosely,  who  was  stationed  at  Deerfield,  with 
about  sixty  men,  marched  to  his  assistance,  but  was  too  late  to  relieve 
him.  In  the  mean -time  he  was  obliged  to  defend  himself  against  a  large 
body  of  Indians  for  three  hours.  At  last  he  and  his  men  retreated,  fight- 
ing nine  miles  for  their  lives  as  they  retired.  He  held  his  situation  until 
reinforced  by  Major  Treat  with  about  one  hundred  men  from  Connecti- 
cut (seventy  of  whom  were  from  Fairfield  county)  and  sixty  Mohegans. 
The  enemy  were  soon  put  to  flight  ;  but  the  loss  of  the  English,  particu- 
larly in  Essex  county,  was  regarded  a  universal  affliction.  Jehu  Burr  and 
William  Hill  met  with  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies,  about  the 
middle  of  September.  A  standing  army  of  one  thousand  men  was  ordered 
to  be  raised  for  the  defense  of  the  colonies,  of  which  five  hundred  were  to 
be  dragoons.  The  quota  for  Connecticut  was  three  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  who  were  to  be  commanded  by  Major  Treat,  of  Stratford.  Scarcely 
had  this  army  been  equipped,  when  it  was  called  to  make  a  rapid  march 
to  defend  Springfield,  which  had  been  attacked  with  considerable  loss. 
On  the  loth,  Major  Andros  notified  the  council  at  Hartford  that  an 
Indian  had  discovered  to  him  an  extraordinary  combination  among  the 
Indians,  extending  from  Hartford  to  Greenwich,  to  attack  all  the  English 
settlements  on  the  approaching  moonlight  nights.  The  work  of  destruc- 
tion was  to  begin  at  Hartford.  He  reported  that  from  five  to  six  thou- 
sand Indians  were  engaged  in  the  conspiracy.  He  somewhat  doubted  the 
story,  but  thought  the  whole  colony  should  be  prepared  for  any  emer- 
gency. 

The  day  following,  the  council  ordered  that  Hartford,  being  the  head- 
quarters of  the  council,  should  be  further  protected  from  surprise  or  inva- 
sion, by  "  Flankers  being  placed  in  or  near  the  outside  houses  of  the  town, 
at  such  convenient  distances  that  they  could  be  commanded  from  flanker 
to  flanker  around  the  entire  town."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  carry 
on  the  work,  and  attend  each  flanker  in  case  of  alarm.  The  constables 


1675]  AN    INTERESTING   DECADE  l8l 

were  ordered  to  see  that  the  watchmen  kept  a  vigilant  eye  on  the  Indians 
in  the  vicinity,  and  exact  from  them  assurances  of  fidelity. 

The  General  Assembly  met  on  the  I4th  of  October.  Upon  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Fitch  giving  information  that  the  Indians  were  plotting  to  attack 
Norwich,  Major  Treat  was  ordered  to  send  forty  men  post  haste,  under 
some  suitable  commander,  to  assist  the  militia  in  the  defense  of  that  town. 
The  planters  of  Derby  and  all  the  other  small  settlements,  were  advised  to 
remove  their  wives  and  children  to  some  one  of  the  larger  towns  for  safety. 

Major  Robert  Treat  appeared  before  the  Assembly,  and  tendered  his 
resignation  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army.  A  vote  of  thanks  was 
passed  for  his  late  good  services,  and  the  Assembly  "  desired  him  to  con- 
tinue in  the  office  with  his  regiment  over  the  forces  of  the  colony." 

Sixty  troopers  were  ordered  to  be  raised  out  of  each  county.  Those 
raised  in  Fairfield  county,  were  to  be  commanded  by  Captain  William  Cur- 
tis, of  Stratford.  Major  Gold  was  requested  to  appoint  his  son-in-law, 
Josiah  Harvey,  of  Fairfield,  or  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  Stratford,  as  surgeon  for 
the  army,  and  Israel  Chauncey  of  the  same  place  as  chaplain.*  Ger- 
shom  Bulkely  of  Wethersfield,  also  received  the  appointment  of  surgeon. 
Robert  Seely  of  Stratford,  and  Nathaniel  Seely  of  Fairfield,  were  made 
lieutenants. 

Each  town  in  the  colony  was  ordered  to  appoint  a  committee  to  raise 
some  suitable  place  of  defense  into  which  the  women  and  children,  the 
aged  and  the  helpless  might  repair  without  delay,  in  case  of  alarm  or  an 
attack  by  the  Indians,  and  into  which  they  might  also  send  their  grain, 
valuables  and  movable  property.  The  majors  in  each  county  were  to 
appoint  an  officer  to  command  the  fortifications,  and  also  one  to  take 
charge  of  the  militia. 

Any  neglect  of  duty  by  an  officer  was  punishable  with  death.  Inferior 
punishments  were  to  be  decided  by  commissioned  officers  in  each  town  ; 
but  cases  of  life  or  limb  were  to  be  tried  before  a  court  martial,  which 
was  to  consist  of  the  governor,  deputy-governor  and  the  majors  of  the 
several  regiments. 

Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  were  nominated  and  appointed  with  the 
deputy-governor,  the  assistants,  and  four  other  gentlemen,  as  a  standing 
council,  to  order  the  military  affairs  of  the  colony.  John  Banks  was  also 
appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  audit  the  treasurer's  account.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  danger  to  which  many  planters  wrerc  exposed  from  the 
hostile  Indians,  while  planting  their  fields,  and  the  destruction  of  a  large 
amount  of  grain  by  the  enemy  in  the  frontier  towns,  the  Assembly  ordered 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  268. 


1 82  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

that  "  no  corn,  grain,  meal,  flour  or  bread  should  be  sent  out  of  the  colony, 
without  a  special  license  from  the  Council,  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiting 
three  fourths  of  such  shipments  to  the  colony,  &  one  fourth  to  the 
informer."  A  fine  or  twelve  months'  imprisonment  without  bail,  was  laid 
upon  any  one  guilty  of  selling  arms  or  ammunition  to  the  Indians,  with  a 
severe  whipping  upon  entering  the  prison,  and  once  a  quarter  during  the 
twelve  months. 

Great  caution  was  recommended  in  treating  with  the  friendly  Indians. 
The  magistrates  and  commissioners  were  given  power  to  treat  with  them 
in  or  near  the  several  towns  in  an  amicable  manner,  and  to  avoid  any 
appearance  of  intolerance.  In  order  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
unfriendly  Indians,  stated  times  for  admitting  them  into  the  plantations 
were  suggested. 

A  strong  effort  was  made  to  prevent  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors 
among  the  Indians,  as  also  to  oblige  them  to  keep  the  Sabbath.  Cate- 
chisms were  published  in  the  Indian  language  and  circulated  among  them. 
These  efforts,  however,  proved  of  but  little  avail.  The  wars  which  were 
perpetually  kept  up  among  them,  their  ignorance  of  reading,  writing  or 
spelling  in  the  English  language,  as  well  as  the  ignorance  of  the  ministers 
of  the  Indian  dialects,  were  serious  obstacles  in  the  accomplishment  of 
this  desirable  undertaking.  A  few  Indians  here  and  there  became  Chris- 
tians, and  were  baptized  and  admitted  to  the  communion. 

In  order  to  retain  a  sufficient  force  for  the  protection  of  each  town,  a 
law  was  passed  that  any  male  "  above  fourteen  years  of  age  or  under  the 
age  of  seventy,"  being  led  by  inordinate  fear  to  distrust  God's  provi- 
dence to  remove  out  of  the  colony,  without  a  license  from  the  council  or 
military  officer,  should  be  fined  one  hundred  pounds,  or  in  default  of  such 
a  sum,  be  corporally  punished  according  to  the  discretion  of  the  court.  A 
tax  of  six  pence  upon  the  pound  was  levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the 
colony,  to  be  paid  in  wheat,  peas,  Indian  corn,  beef  and  pork,  in  propor- 
tion of  "  one  half  in  flesh."  Those  who  could  pay  in  money,  were  required 
to  pay  their  full  tax  in  specie. 

The  council  sent  a  letter  of  thanks  to  Major  Andros  for  his  timely 
warning  of  the  combination  among  the  Indians.  They  wrote  that  although 
they  had  all  summer  been  alarmed,  greatly  distressed,  and  charged  by 
hostile  appearances  from  almost  every  port  in  the  colony,  "  wherein  God 
had  made  them  to  be  as  a  bush  burning,  yet  not  consumed  in  the  midst 
of  these  flames,"  yet  notwithstanding,  they  thankfully  accepted  his 
friendly  lines  of  intelligence  posted  so  seasonably.  Such  Christian  help- 
fulness, they  suggested,  should  be  encouraged  ;  and  they  should  feel  them- 


1675]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  183 

selves  bound  to  reciprocate  his  good  will,  in  sending  aid  to  him  should  it 
be  required;  feeling  themselves  "  to  be  naturally  obliged  in  loyalty  to  their 
King,  to  be  as  neighborly  serviceable  on  these  accounts  against  barbarou.-, 
natives  as  any  of  his  majesties  subjects,  however  distinct  they  might  be 
upon  their  just  patent  right." 

Major  Andros  immediately  replied,  that  although  his  first  efforts  to 
assist  them  were  slighted  and  rejected,  he  should,  nevertheless,  not  be 
wanting  in  duty  to  his  countrymen  ;  and  if  the  council  would  send  a  fit 
person,  he  should  be  ready  to  serve  them  in  every  way  in  his  power.  On 
the  iQth  Hatfield  was  attacked.  The  same  day  the  dragoons  from  Fair- 
field  county  reached  Hartford,  and  were  immediately  sent  forward  to 
reinforce  Major  Treat  at  his  headquarters  at  Northampton.  His  army 
now  numbered  about  three  hundred  English,  with  whom  he  marched 
without  delay  to  the  defense  of  Hadley.  The  Indians  numbered  several 
hundred.  A  severe  battle  was  fought,  in  which  the  Indians  were  defeated 
and  pursued  to  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut,  into  which  many  of  them 
plunged,  hoping  to  reach  the  opposite  shore.  Several  were  drowned,  and 
their  arms  and  ammunition  were  lost.  So  many  of  their  number  were 
killed  in  the  fight,  that  they  were  greatly  discouraged.  Most  of  them 
made  their  way  to  the  Narragansett  country,  but  enough  remained  to 
annoy  and  distress  the  planters  from  time  to  time. 

It  now  became  apparent  that  the  Narragansctts  had  broken  their 
league  with  the  English,  and  it  was  believed  that  some  of  their  young  men, 
who  returned  wounded,  had  been  engaged  in  the  war  with  Philip's  men. 
It  was  known  that  they  could  muster  about  two  thousand  warriors,  which, 
joined  with  the  other  hostile  Indians,  who  were  armed  with  at  least  a 
thousand  muskets,  formed  an  army  more  formidable  than  the  English 
could  collect  to  protect  the  towns  frcm  general  devastation. 

The  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  met  at  Boston  on  the  2<.l  of 
November,  and  declared  war  against  the  Narragansetts.  They  resolved  to 
raise  a  standing  army  of  one  thousand  men  for  a  winter  campaign,  to  attack 
the  enemy  in  their  own  country.  Massachusetts  was  to  furnish  five  hund- 
red and  seventy-two  men,  consisting  of  six  companies  of  foot  and  a  troop 
of  horse,  under  the  command  of  Major  Applcton  ;  Plymouth  two  com- 
panies of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  men,  commanded  by  Major  Bradford 
and  Captain  Goram  ;  Connecticut  three  hundred  and  fifteen  men,  under 
the  command  of  Major  Robert  Treat.  But  Connecticut  raised  five  com- 
panies, consisting  of  three  hundred  Englishmen  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Mohegans  and  Pequots.  Major  Josiah  Winslow  was  made  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  united  forces,  and  Major  Robert  Treat  second  in  command. 


1 84  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

Upon  his  forming  a  junction  with  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces, 
Captain  Benjamin  Newbery  was  appointed  the  eldest  captain,  to  succeed 
Major  Treat,  in  case  anything  should  prevent  his  fulfilling  his  appoint- 
ment ;  Captain  John  Mason,  third  in  command  ;  Captain  Watts  (or  Wait), 
fourth  ;  Captain  Avery,  fifth  ;  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Seely,  of  Fairfield, 
sixth  ;  and  Lieutenant  John  Miles,  seventh.  The  Connecticut  soldiers 
were  to  rendezvous  at  Norwich,  Stonington,  and  New  London  ;  those  of 
Massachusetts  at  Rehoboleth,  Providence,  and  Warwick,  by  the  loth  of 
December. 

The  2d  of  December  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  through- 
out all  New  England,  for  the  success  of  the  enterprise,  "  in  repelling  the 
rage  &  insolence  of  the  enemie."  Major  Treat  was  ordered  by  the 
council  to  continue  at  Northampton  until  he  received  further  orders,  and 
not  to  march  to  Meadham  without  Captain  Appleton  marched  with  him 
with  his  full  three  hundred  men.  If  the  enemy  assaulted  any  of  the 
plantations,  he  was  to  post  to  their  relief  with  his  whole  strength. 

Major  Gold  was  instructed  that  the  soldiers  who  had  returned  to  Fair- 
field  county,  from  the  late  expedition  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Robert  Seely,  of  Stratford,  be  forthwith  prepared  with  accommodations 
of  clothing,  arms,  and  horse,  and  made  ready  to  march  in  an  hour's  warn- 
ing ;  and  to  furnish  ten  hatchets  for  ten  of  the  soldiers,  "  to  be  worn  by 
their  sides  instead  of  swords."  Major  Gold's  name  was  added  to  the 
council  at  this  time.  Three  hundred  bushels  of  wheat  was  ordered  to 
supply  the  army,  out  of  which  Fairfield  county  was  to  send  one  hundred 
bushels  to  New  London.  Major  Gold,  John  Green,  and  Joseph  Hawley 
were  appointed  quarter-masters  to  collect  wheat,  and  send  it  to  New  Lon- 
don before  the  first  of  December,  and  they  were  also  to  impress  men,  corn, 
or  vessels  for  the  expedition,  if  occasion  required.  The  greatest  excite- 
ment prevailed  at  Fairfield  this  time.  Dragoons  and  footmen,  with  their 
officers  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  daily  arrived,  and  were  quartered  in 
the  town,  and  exercised  on  the  Meeting-house  green.  Horses,  carts,  and 
wagons  were  constantly  arriving  with  provisions,  to  be  shipped  from  Black 
Rock  for  the  army.  The  women  of  the  town  were  busily  employed  in 
fitting  out  their  husbands  and  sons  for  the  expedition.  Every  commis- 
sioned officer  was  granted  a  horse  for  his  use,  and  every  three  soldiers  the 
use  of  one  horse. 

Upon  receiving  information  that  Mr.  Jeremiah  Ball's  house  in  the  Nar- 
ragansett  country  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  eighteen  men, 
women,  and  children  slain,  the  war  council,  on  the  29th,  ordered  Major 
Treat  to  move  with  all  possible  haste,  by  land  or  by  water,  to  the  relief  of 


1675]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  185 

Major  John  Winthrop,  who  was  in  command  of  the  militia  of  New  London 
county,  and  to  make  an  immediate  attack  upon  the  Narragansetts.  He 
was  also  instructed  to  engage  the  Pequots  and  Mohegans  to  join  in  the 
expedition.  The  chaplains  of  the  army,  Gershom  and  Buckley  and  Nicho- 
las Noyse,  were  recommended  to  his  special  care.  The  captains  and  lieu- 
tenants were  commended  to  be  tender  and  careful  of  Major  Treat,  and  to 
guard  his  person  at  all  times  with  a  strong  guard  ;  "  to  avoid  all  that 
might  be  provoking  to  God,  &  that  they  behave  themselves  valiantly  & 
courageously." 

On  the  1 2th  of  December,  the  counties  of  Hartford,  New  Haven,  and 
Fairfield  were  ordered  to  send  a  detachment  of  twenty-six  men,  to  join  a 
detachment  at  Saybrook,  to  assist  the  garrison  of  Norwich,  in  the  protec- 
tion of  that  town.  On  the  i/th,  by  a  letter  of  advice  from  Major  Gold 
and  the  assistants  of  New  Haven,  the  war  council  appointed  a  convention 
of  ministers  from  the  counties  of  Fairfield  and  New  Haven,  to  meet  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Woodbridgc  and  Buckingham  the  next  week  at  New  Haven, 
and  "  in  the  fear  of  God,  to  make  dilligent  search  for  those  evils  amon<jst 

*  o  f> 

us,  which  have  stirred  up  the  Lord's  anger  against  us,  that  they  being 
discovered,  may,  by  repentance  and  reformation,  be  thrown  out  of  our 
camp  &  hearts."  The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  of  Fairfield,  and  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Elliot  of  New  London,  were  appointed  to  make  a  report  of  their 
proceedings  to  the  council  the  following  week.* 

Major  Treat  with  the  Connecticut  troops  arrived  at  Pcttyquamscot, 
on  the  1 7th  of  December,  and  on  the  following  day  formed  a  junction 
with  the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces.  A  hard  snow  storm  came 
on,  and  before  morning  the  ground  was  covered1  over  between  two  and 
three  feet  in  depth.  The  cold  was  so  intense  that  some  of  the  men  had 
their  hands  and  feet  frozen,  and  were  disabled  for  service.  As  day  dawned 
the  march  was  resumed  towards  the  enemy's  quarters.  The  Indians  had 
retired  into  a  swamp,  in  the  centre  of  which  they  had  erected  a  fort  on  a 
rise  of  ground  of  about  three  or  four  acres,  and  surrounded  it  with  pali- 
sades protected  with  felled  trees,  a  rod  wide  on  the  outside.  The  interior 
was  lined  with  a  clay  wall,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  space  in  the  rear, 
which  they  had  not  quite  completed  when  the  English  army  came  upon 
them.  The  entrance  to  the  fort  was  covered  by  a  large  log  or  tree  five  or 
six  feet  in  height.  In  front  of  this  was  a  log-house,  defended  on  the  left 
by  a  flanker. 

Immediately  upon  entering  the  swamp,  the  English  were  attacked  by 
a  body  of  Indians,  who  quickly  retired  to  the  fort  as  they  fired  upon  them. 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn..  II.,  389. 


1 86  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1675 

Captains  Mosely  and  Davenport  with  their  companies,  were  the  first  to 
mount  the  log  before  the  entrance  of  the  fort.  Captain  Davenport  fell 
mortally  wounded  by  three  bullet-shots,  and  committing  his  men  to  the 
charge  of  one  Lieutenant  Edward  Ting,  expired  on  the  spot  Captain 
Mosely,  who  was  well  known  to  the  Indians,  was  shot  at  by  many,  but 
was  miraculously  saved.  Such  was  the  well  directed  fire  of  the  Indians, 
that  those  who  had  so  precipitately  entered  the  fort,  were  obliged  to  retire 
to  the  outside,  with  the  loss  of  many  brave  men.  The  obstructions  of  the 
swamp  and  the  snow  were  serious  barriers  in  drawing  the  army  up  for 
action  ;  but  the  men  pressed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the  encoun- 
ter. The  Connecticut  troops,  who  formed  the  rear  of  the  army  upon  com- 
ing up,  were  led  by  the  spirited  Captains  Seely  and  Gallop  to  dash  over 
the  felled  trees  at  the  entrance.  The  fire  of  the  Indians  was  terrible,  and 
both  Seely  and  Gallop  fell  mortally  wounded ;  and  many  of  their  men 
were  slain  and  wounded.  Meanwhile  Captain  Benjamin  Church,  with  sev- 
eral others  passed  quickly  round  to  the  rear,  where,  finding  the  narrow 
uncompleted  spot,  covered  only  with  a  hedge  of  trees  and  brush,  they 
climbed  over  unobserved  by  the  Indians,  who  were  directing  all  their  fire 
to  the  front,  and  running  down  between  the  wigwams,  standing  closely 
together,  they  poured  a  well  directed  fire  from  their  large  muskets,  loaded 
with  pistol  bullets,  into  the  backs  of  the  enemy.  Attacked  in  the  most 
spirited  manner  both  in  front  and,  rear  the  Indians  were  driven  from  the 
log-house  and  flanker  into  the  centre  of  the  fort,  where,  after  a  long  and 
bloody  action,  they  were  totally  routed,  and  fled  under  cover  of  the  for- 
ests into  a  cedar  swamp,  where  they  remained  all  night  without  food  or 
shelter.  Their  wigwams  numbering  about  six  hundred,  were  immediately 
fired  ;  and  many  of  their  old  men,  women  and  children  perished  in  the 
flames,  as  well  as  their  corn,  stores,  utensils,  and  other  effects.  About 
three  hundred  of  their  number  were  slain.  Many  were  mortally  wounded, 
and  others  died  from  their  wounds,  or  perished  with  the  extreme  cold. 
About  the  same  number  were  taken  prisoners,  and  as  many  women  and 
children. 

As  the  signal  for  retreat  was  given,  the  army  marched  some  distance  by 
the  light  of  the  burning  fort  and  wigwams.  Their  loss  had  been  severe  and 
the  victory  dearly  bought.  Eighty  of  their  number  had  been  killed  or  mor- 
tally wounded.  As  the  evening  approached  they  left  the  swamp,  bearing 
with  them  about  two  hundred  dead  and  wounded.  Captains  Davenport, 
Johnson,  Gardner,  Marshall  and  Gallop  had  been  slain.  Captain  Robert 
Seely  of  Stratford  was  wounded,  and  died  a  few  days  after.  Captain  Nathaniel 
Seely  of  Fairfield,  while  animating  his  men  to  enter  the  fort,  was  mortally 


1675]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  1 87 

wounded  by  a  renegade  Englishman  named  Tift.  Tift  had  been  justly  pun- 
ished  for  some  crime,  and  had  deserted  the  colonial  army,  and  fled  to 
the  enemy,  by  whom  he  was  well  received,  and  led  some  of  their  forces 
in  the  swamp  fight.*  Lieutenants  Savage,  Ting,  Swain,  and  Upham  were 
wounded. 

Massachusetts  had  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  Plymouth  twenty 
killed  and  wounded.  The  Connecticut  troops  suffered  more  than  any  of 
the  others.  Major  Treat  had  twenty  killed  or  wounded  ;  Captain  Seely 
twenty  ;  Captain  Gallop  twenty  ;  Captain  Waite  seventeen  ;  Captain  Mason 
nine;  and  Captain  Marshall  fourteen;!  numbering  in  all  one  hundred, 
which  was  about  half  the  loss  of  the  slain  and  wounded  in  the  expedition. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Ruggles  left  a  manuscript  bearing  the  following 
eulogy  to  their  memory  : 

"  In  that  signal  service,  the  fort  fight  in  Narragansett,  as  \ve  have  our  full  number  in 
proportion  with  the  other  confederates,  so  all  say  they  did  their  full  proportion  of  service. 
Three  noble  soldiers,  Seely,  courageous  Marshall  &  bold  Gallup  died  in  the  bed  of  honor, 
&  valiant  Mason,  a  fourth  captain,  had  his  death  wound.  There  died  many  brave 
officers,  &  sentinels,  whose  memory  is  blessed,  &  whose  death  redeems  their  lives. 
The  bitter  cold,  the  tarled  swamp,  the  tedious  march,  the  strong  fort,  the  numerous  & 
stubborn  enemy  they  contended  with,  for  their  God,  king  &  country,  be  their  trophies 
over  death.  He  that  commanded  our  forces  then,  &  now  us,  made  no  less  than  seventeen 
fair  shots  at  the  enemy,  &  was  thereby  as  a  mark  for  them.  Our  mourners,  all  over  the 
colony,  witness  for  our  men,  that  they  were  not  unfaithful  in  that  day.  A  tradition  exists 
that  Major  Treat  received  a  ball  through  the  brim  of  his  hat,  £  that  he  was  the  last  man 
who  left  the  fort  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  commanding  the  rear  of  the  army.  The 
burning  wigwams,  the  shrieks  &  cries  of  the  women  £  children,  &  the  yelling  of  the 
warriors,  exhibited  a  most  horrible  £  affecting  scene  ;  so  that  it  greatly  moved  some  of 
the  soldiers.  They  were  in  much  doubt  then,  &  afterwards,  often  seriously  inquired, 
whether  burning  their  enemies  alive  could  be  consistent  with  humanity  &  the  benevolent 
principles  of  the  gospel."  J 

Through  the  freezing  cold  and  falling  snow  the  brave  army,  conveying 
their  dead  and  wounded,  marched  back  about  eighteen  miles,  and  reached 
headquarters  at  one  Mr.  Smith's  house  about  midnight.  From  extreme 

*  Tift  was  soon  after  taken  prisoner.  His  gun  was  found  to  be  loaded  with  slugstones.  He 
was  tried  before  a  council  of  war,  and  condemned  to  be  hanged  and  quartered. — Drake's  Old 
Indian  Chronicle,  p.  197. 

f  Both  Captains  Robert  and  Nathaniel  Seely  were  sons  or  grandsons  of  the  renowned  Captain 
Robert  Seely,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  Pequot  war. 

\  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  353-358  ;  Bryant's  Hist.  Conn.,  II.,  401-418.     "  The  night 
before  the  fight,  &  all  that  Day,  &  the  Night  after,  there  fell    such  an  extraordinary  snow,  that 
the  like  had  not  been  known  for  many  years, — no  post  come  for  our  army  for  four  or  five  days."- 
Drake's  Old  Indian  Chronicle,   185. 


l88  HISTORY  OF  FAIRFIELD  [1675 

cold  many  of  the  soldiers  were  frozen,  and  their  limbs  badly  swollen. 
About  four  hundred  were  unfit  for  service.  The  Connecticut  troops 
suffered  greatly  from  their  hard  march  from  Stonington  to  Pettyquamscot, 
and  their  exposure  in  the  open  fields,  before  they  came  up  with  the 
Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces. 

The  hospitality  and  kind  treatment  which  the  army  received  at  the 
hospital  of  Rhode  Island,  and  at  the  hands  of  the  Rhode  Island  planters 
and  their  families,  in  whose  homes  some  of  them  died  of  their  wounds,  and 
others  remained  until  fit  for  service,  are  noticeable  features  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

The  Connecticut  troops  were  in  such  a  disabled  condition,  that  Major 
Treat  resolved  to  return  home  with  the  remnant  of  his  army.  Between 
Pettyquamscot  his  men  killed  six  and  captured  seven  of  the  enemy  ;  and 
on  their  march  home  they  killed  about  thirty  more/" 

The  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  forces  kept  the  field  all  winter. 
They  scoured  the  country,  captured  many  of  the  enemy,  burned  about 
two  hundred  wigwams,  and  secured  a  large  amount  of  corn  and  beans. 
The  loss  of  at  least  nine  hundred  wigwams,  and  almost  the  whole  of  their 
provisions,  caused  great  distress  among  the  Indians.  It  was  in  vain  that 
the  English  made  overtures  of  peace.  King  Philip  was  yet  alive,  and 
while  he  lived  he  had  resolved  to  yield  only  with  his  life,  or  the  annihi- 
lation of  the  white  man,  who  had  taken  from  his  race  the  princely  inherit- 
ance of  their  freedom  and  lands. 

*  In  a  petition  of  Samuel  Hall  of  Fairfield  to  the  General  Assembly  of  May,  1678,  for  a  suitable 
compensation  for  the  loss  of  his  clothes,  etc.,  at  the  great  Narragansett  swamp  fight,  he  thus  describes 
his  sufferings  :  "  I  was  not  in  the  rear  when  Captain  Mason  was  shot.  I  was  just  before  him  when 
he  fell  down,  &  shook  him  by  the  hand,  I  being  shot  down  before  in  that  very  place,  so  that  he 
fell  very  near  me.  But  Captain  Mason  got  up  again  &  went  forth,  &  I  lay  bleeding  there  in  the  snow ; 
&  hearing  the  word  commanded  to  set  fire  in  the  wigwams,  I  considered  I  should  be  burned,  if  I 
did  not  crawl  away.  It  pleased  God  to  give  me  strength  to  get  up  &  get  out,  with  my  cutlass  in  my 
hand,  notwithstanding.  I  received  at  that  four  bullets,  two  in  each  thigh  as  was  manifest  after- 
wards." His  great  coat  and  knapsack  with  all  his  clothing  were  lost,  and  he  was  compelled  to  lie 
bleeding  upon  the  straw,  "  having  not  else  to  drink  but  water  &  ice  with  it,  for  several  clays  after 
the  fight."  He  was  then  carted  to  the  water  side  and  csrried  on  board  a  vessel  to  be  conveyed  to 
Rhode  Island,  where  he  remained  until  able  to  go  on  crutches,  suffering  greatly  in  the  extreme 
cold  for  want  of  suitable  clothing.  The  Assembly  awarded  him  fifty  shillings,  besides  releas- 
ing him  from  paying  his  taxes. — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  5,  6. 

John  Hubbell  of  Stratford,  a  son  of  Richard  Hubbell  of  Fairfield,  lost  one  of  his  fingers,  and 
on  account  of  this  misfortune  was  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  at  Stratford. — Col.  Rec. 
Conn.,  Ill ,  6. 

Joseph  James  of  Fairfield  was  so  severely  wounded,  that  on  account  of  his  disabled  condition 
the  General  Assembly,  in  1679,  granted  him  a  pension  of  fifty  shillings  per  annum.— Col.  Rec. 
Conn.,  III.,  37. 


1676]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  189 

After  the  destruction  of  their  wigwams  and  stores,  Philip  and  his  con- 
federates left  the  Narragansetts,  and  moving  northward,  took  up  their 
abode  in  the  Nipmuck  country.  On  the  6th  of  January,  Governor 
Andros  sent  a  messenger  to  Hartford  notifying  the  governor  and  council 
of  war,  that  Philip,  with  four  or  five  hundred  fighting  men,  was  encamped 
within  forty  or  fifty  miles  of  Albany.  The  council  ordered  that  fresh 
troops  should  be  raised  and  sent  to  the  posts  of  danger  as  speedily  as 
possible.  The  severity  of  the  weather,  and  the  suffering  which  the  sol- 
diers endured  in  their  late  expedition  from  want  of  proper  shelter  and 
clothing,  had  caused  loud  murmurings  among  them,  in  consequence  of 
which,  on  the  loth  a  body  of  laws  was  drawn  and  adopted  by  the  coun- 
cil "  for  regulating  the  forces,  keeping  the  soldiers  to  their  duty,  &  to  pre- 
vent profaneness."  By  these  laws  a  blasphemer  against  the  Holy  Trinity, 
suffered  the  pain  of  having  his  tongue  bored  through  with  a  red-hot  iron. 
Execrations,  oaths,  and  neglect  of  Sabbath  duties,  were  punished  with 
loss  of  pay  and  other  penalties.  Murder,  sedition,  mutiny,  raising  or 
drawing  a  weapon  against  a  superior  officer,  were  punished  with  death  or 
great  severity.  Drunkenness,  thefts,  and  other  vices  caused  the  loss  of 
pay  or  severe  punishment.  If  any  officer  or  private,  through  carelessness, 
or  by  playing  at  cards  or  dice,  lost  their  arms,  they  were  to  be  kept 
as  pioneers  or  scavengers,  until  they  furnished  themselves  with  good 
arms. 

On  the  nth,  instructions  were  sent  to  Major  Gold  and  such  assistants 
as  were  near  Fairfield,  to  fill  the  vacancies  of  the  deceased  officers  of  the 
county  ;  to  raise  privates,  and  fit  them  for  the  expedition  ;  to  supply  sur- 
geons, gunsmiths,  and  blacksmiths;  to  increase  the  county  tax  to  \2d., 
"  &  to  return  to  his  charge  by  way  of  Hartford,  &  within  eight  days  to 
New  London."  Owing  to  the  severity  of  the  winter,  fearing  that  timely 
stores  and  other  necessaries  could  not  be  sent  from  Boston  without  delay 
or  loss,  the  council  also  instructed  Major  Gold  to  forward  to  New  London 
beef,  pork,  wheat,  meal  or  bread,  clothing  and  shoes  in  the  safest  and  most 
expeditious  way.  It  was  agreed  that  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  should 
pay  toward  the  proportion  of  these  supplies.* 

On  the  1 3th,  Major  Treat  was  instructed  to  give  orders  to  forward  the 
forces  of  Fairfield  and  New  Haven,  with  provisions  and  clothing,  without 
delay  to  New  London.  Sergeant  William  Ward  of  Fairfield  was  appointed 
surgeon  of  the  forces  stationed  at  New  London.  Jonathan  Sellcck  of 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  394-397.  The  mills  in  Massachusetts  were  frozen  up,  in  consequence  of 
which  the  council  of  war  urged  the  commissioners  at  the  seaside  to  forward  provisions  as  speed- 
ily as  possible. 


190  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1676 

Stamford  was  appointed  captain  of  the  Fairfield  county  troops,  and 
Stephen  Burrett  of  Stratford,  lieutenant.  The  Mohegan  and  Pequot 
Indians  still  remaining  friendly,  were  recommended  to  the  kindness  and 
special  encouragement  of  the  commanding  officers  of  the  companies ; 
and  that  care  should  be  taken  to  give  them  "  a  signal  mark,"  so  as  to  distin- 
guish them  from  other  Indians.  Great  sufferings  were  endured  by  the 
Massachusetts  forces  sent  to  re-enforce  the  English  troops  at  Narragan- 
sett.  Eleven  of  their  men  were  frozen  to  death,  and  others  became  sick 
and  disheartened  through  the  effects  of  hardship  and  extreme  cold.  Their 
spirits  were  raised,  however,  by  a  junction  with  the  Connecticut  forces, 
the  latter  having  reached  New  London  on  the  22d  of  the  month. 

Although  a  tax  of  I2d.  had  been  laid  upon  the  planters  at  the  seaside, 
by  the  advice  and  consent  of  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  of  Fairfield, 
Captain  Curtis  of  Stratford  and  the  deputies  of  Hartford  county,  the 
council  on  the  24th  further  ordered  that  the  rate  of  \2d.  should  be  levied 
throughout  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  During  the  latter  part  of  the 
month,  the  council  received  information  that  a  body  of  Indians  was  seated 
about  eight  or  ten  miles  north  of  Providence,  that  others  were  scattered  in 
small  bodies  to  the  Nipmucks  to  prey  upon  English  plantations,  intercept 
the  army,  and  to  notify  the  sachems  in  case  of  fresh  danger  in  time  to 
escape  farther  northward.  They  murdered  two  men  and  boys  at  Norwich, 
seized  upon  sixteen  horses,  fifty  neat  cattle,  and  two  hundred  sheep  at 
Warwick. 

On  the  loth,  the  Narragansetts  and  Nipmucks  attacked  Lancaster, 
plundered  and  burned  the  town  with  its  garrison-house,  murdered  several 
of  its  inhabitants,  and  took  captive  all  the  women  and  children.  A  few 
days  after  Medfield  was  laid  in  ashes,  and  twenty  men  killed.  The  inhabit, 
ants  of  Simsbury  were  advised  to  move  to  a  stronger  plantation.  All  the 
towns  on  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut  were  ordered  to  raise  fortifica- 
tions, into  which  the  inhabitants,  with  their  cattle,  hay  and  provisions, 
should  be  taken  for  safety. 

On  the  24th,  Major  Treat  received  instructions  to  go  up  the  river  as  far 
as  Portland  and  Glastonbury,  with  one  hundred  men  and  as  many  friendly 
Indians  as  should  join  him  on  the  way,  to  surprise  the  enemy  and  clear 
the  coast  before  the  main  army  moved  northward. 

The  Mohegans  and  Pequots  were  sent  under  the  protection  of  a  body 
of  Englishmen  into  the  Narragansett  country  to  capture  the  enemy,  and 
to  seize  their  corn  and  provisions.  On  the  25th,  Cornelius  Hull,  of  Fair- 
field,  was  appointed  by  the  council,  lieutenant  of  Major  Treat's  life 
guard.  Upon  the  opening  of  spring,  the  rage  of  the  Indians  broke  forth 


1676]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  191 

in  great  fury.  Early  in  March  about  three  hundred  of  them  attacked 
Warwick  and  Providence  in  Rhode  Island,  and  drove  away  a  large  number 
of  horses,  cattle  and  sheep.  An  engagement  took  place  at  Warwick 
between  the  Indian  sachem  of  the  town  and  the  English.  Several  Indians 
were  killed,  and  four  Connecticut  men  wounded.  Northampton,  Spring- 
field, Chelmsford,  Groton,  Sudbury,  and  Marlborough  were  attacked,  valua- 
ble property  destroyed,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  killed  or  wounded, 
and  the  women  and  children  led  away  into  a  helpless  and  wretched  cap- 
tivity. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  the  English,  that  the  planters  were  ordered 
to  labor  in  companies  while  preparing  their  fields  for  sowing  grain,  etc., 
with  watchmen  on  guard  by  day,  and  wards  by  night.  All  the  inhabitants 
in  the  several  plantations  were  ordered  "to  carry  arms  &  ammunition 
with  them  to  public  meetings,  both  at  times  of  worship  &  all  other  times." 
Threats  from  the  enemy  against  the  principal  towns  in  New  England  led 
the  council  to  order  fortifications  around  Hartford,  New  Haven  and  al! 
the  other  towns  capable  of  raising  them  ;  and  to  finish  their  stockades  and 
flankers  with  a  ditch  and  breastwork.  Every  man  and  boy  capable  of 
working  was  ordered  to  leave  all  other  duties,  except  those  of  necessity 
and  mercy,  and  assist  in  completing  the  fortifications,  under  a  penalty  of 
"  high  contempt  of  Authority  in  matters  of  great  importance." 

To  prevent  the  Indians  from  murdering  the  planters  as  they  opened 
their  doors  in  the  morning,  on  the  i6th  the  wards  in  the  several  plantations 
were  ordered  to  rouse  the  inhabitants  about  an  hour  before  daybreak,  to 
repair  fully  armed  to  their  fortifications,  and  there  to  stand  on  guard 
until  the  sun  was  half  an  hour  high.*  Two  scouts  on  horseback  were 
ordered  to  be  sent  out  from  each  town  into  the  woods  during  the  day, 
and  make  returns  to  the  chief  military  officer  of  the  condition  of  the 
enemy. 

The  situation  of  the  New  England  towns  at  this  time  was  as  critical  as 
it  was  depressing.  Several  towns  in  Massachusetts  were  almost  depopu- 
lated. The  frontier  towns  of  all  the  colonies  were  scenes  of  frequent  inva- 
sions and  devastations.  The  Indians  throughout  the  western  part  of  Con- 
necticut, were  more  or  less  influenced  by  the  war  spirit  of  the  eastern  part 
of  the  colony.  At  Milford  they  became  very  troublesome.  It  does  not 
appear,  however,  that  the  Indians  about  Fairfield  ventured  to  offer  hostili- 
ties. The  town  of  Fairfield  was  the  military  centre  of  the  count}-,  and  too 

*The  subtle  Indians  near  daybreak  came  about  the  houses  privately,  and  lay  clo>e  in  the 
fences,  and  as  people  came  out  of  their  houses  shot  them  down. — Drake's  Old  Indian  Chronicle, 
p.  215. 


IQ2  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1676 

strongly  fortified  for  the  Indians  to  attack  it,  even  if  they  had  the  inclina- 
tion. Major  Gold  was  constantly  engaged  in  forwarding  men,  grain,  pro- 
visions and  clothing  for  the  troops  to  Hartford  and  New  London.  The 
flower  of  the  young  men  of  the  town  and  county  embarked  from  Black 
Rock  for  the  seat  of  war.  Many  families  wore  the  badge  of  woe  for  their 
brave  loved  ones  slain  in  battle  ;  and  those  who  went  forth  to  take  their 
places  filled  other  hearts  with  fears  for  their  safety.  From  the.  summit  of 
Grover's,  Holland,  Osborn  and  Round  hills,  vessels  bearing  courageous 
hearts,  and  stores  of  good  cheer  for  the  famished  army,  were  seen  gliding 
out  of  the  harbor  towards  New  London,  while  others  were  returning  with 
the  sick  and  wounded,  bringing  back  news  of  the  war. 

Before  March  ended,  Captain  Pierce,  of  Plymouth,  with  fifty  Englishmen 
and  twenty  Indians,  was  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  near  his  fortification 
(March  26),  and  sixty-three  men  were  slain.  Two  days  after  forty  houses, 
besides  barns  and  outhouses,  were  burned  at  Rehoboth  near  Swanzy. 
Captain  Wadsworth,  while  marching  with  fifty  men  to  the  relief  of  Sud- 
bury,  was  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  all  his  men  were  slain. 

Meanwhile  companies  of  volunteers  from  the  eastern  towns  of  Connec- 
ticut, with  Pequots,  Mohegans,  and  Nehantics,  who  had  joined  the  English 
in  February,  with  promises  of  sharing  the  plunder  taken,  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing the  enemy  from  their  quarters  in  the  Narragansett  country.  "  As  soon 
as  one  company  returned  another  went  out  immediately,  so  as  to  keep  the 
enemy  in  continued  alarm."  On  the  24th,  Major  Treat  was  ordered  to 
march  with  one  hundred  men  to  join  the  forces  assembled  at  Norwich  and 
New  London  ;  and  to  march  to  the  Narragansett  country  as  far  north  as  the 
Nipmuck  territory.  He  was  instructed  to  destroy  the  enemy,  and  as  much 
provision  and  estates  as  he  met  with.  Before  he  reached  Norwich,  how- 
ever, intelligence  was  received  at  Hartford  that  the  Indians  had  again 
attacked  Simsbury,  and  burned  part  of  the  town.  He  was  recalled  to  pro- 
tect the  towns  near  Hartford.  Scouts  and  companies  continued  to  be  sent 
out  daily  to  scour  the  country  and  woods  near  the  plantations,  and  to 
guard  the  planters  while  plowing  and  sowing. 

On  the  2/th,  the  council  of  war  proposed  to  the  enemy  an  exchange  of 
prisoners.  They  also  made  fruitless  overtures  of  peace  to  all  Indians  bear- 
ing arms  against  the  English. 

On  the  3 1st,  the  council  ordered,  that  half  of  the  soldiers  of  New 
Haven  and  Fairficld  counties  should  daily  follow  the  scouts,  and  kill  or 
secure  Indians  skulking  near  the  plantations  on  the  Connecticut  river. 
Major  Gold,  with  three  of  the  commissioners  nearest  Fairfield,  was  in- 
structed to  press  men  into  the  service,  so  as  to  relieve  those  "  who  had 


1676]  AN  INTERESTING   DECADE  193 

great  need  to  go  to  their  habitations  to  recruit ;  "  and  to  send  them  to 
Hartford  as  speedily  as  possible. 

The  council  also  addressed  a  letter  to  Governor  Andros  urging  him  to 
engage  the  Mohawks  to  join  the  English  forces  against  the  enemy,  who 
were  reported  to  be  gathering  in  numbers,  twenty  miles  north  of  Albany. 

On  account  of  the  scarcity  of  breadstuffs  and  provisions,  a  vessel  was 
dispatched  from  New  London  to  Barbadoes,  to  obtain  supplies  for  the 
army. 

About  the  first  of  April,  the  enemy  experienced  a  serious  blow,  which 
not  only  humiliated  their  savage  pride,  but  greatly  disheartened  their  lead- 
ers. Captain  Dennison  of  Stonington,  with  one  hundred  English  volun- 
teers, and  several  Mohegans,  Pequots  and  Niantics  under  young  Uncas, 
made  an  excursion  into  the  Narragansett  country,  and  captured  Nannun- 
tenoo  or  Canonchet,  son  of  Miantonimo,  and  several  of  his  principal  men, 
killed  fifty  others,  and  took  forty  prisoner?.  Canonchet  had  been  a  bitter 
enemy  of  the  English,  and  was,  at  the  time  he  was  captured,  boasting  of 
the  part  he  had  taken  in  cutting  off  Captain  Pierce  and  his  men.  Fearing 
if  he  was  released,  he  would  become  more  bitter  against  the  English  than 
ever,  it  was  decided  that  he  should  die.  He  was  therefore  taken  to  Ston- 
ington, and  there  shot,  at  his  own  request,  by  young  Uncas,  the  Pequots, 
the  Mohegans,  and  Niantics  sharing  "  in  the  glory  of  destroying  so  great 
a  prince."  On  the  5th  of  April,  the  council  expressed  regret  that  they 
were  not  first  notified  of  the  capture  of  Canonchet,  before  it  was  decided 
to  put  him  to  death.'" 

Before  April  ended,  a  grandson  of  Pomham,  who  was  esteemed  the 
bravest  and  best  soldier  among  the  Narragansett  sachems,  was  taken  and 
killed.  On  the  I5th  of  April,  the  council  had  ordered  Major  Treat  to  dis- 
band the  soldiers,  who  had  been  pressed  into  the  service  ;  and  to  instruct 
them  to  remain  in  their  respective  counties,  equipped  and  ready  to  be  ral- 
lied for  the  field  at  a  day's  warning.  Provision  was  made  that  if  they  were 
suddenly  called  to  active  service,  their  planting  fields  should  receive  every 
necessary  attention.  On  the  2/th,  the  council  ordered  Major  Gold  to 
send  as  many  Englishmen  and  Fairfield  county  Indians,  f  as  were  willing 
to  join  the  volunteers  at  New  London,  in  vigorous  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
On  the  1st  of  May,  several  Indians  were  sent  into  the  Nipmuck  country, 
with  overtures  of  peace  to  all  Indians  at  war  with  the  English,  and  to  meet 
the  colonial  agents  of  the  council  at  Hadley. 

The  colony  sustained  a  great  loss  at  this  time  in  the  death  of  Governor 

*TrumbuH's  Hist.  Conn..  I.,   344,  345.      Drake's  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  230-232. 
f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  437. 
13 


194  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [r676 

John  Winthrop."*  The  spring  court  of  election  was  held  at  Hartford  on 
the  I  ith  of  May.  Major  Gold  was  made  an  assistant  of  the  General  Court ; 
Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  deputies  ;  and  Jehu  Burr  and  William  Hill  com- 
missioners, and  also  members  of  the  standing  council  of  war.  Orders  were 
issued  to  raise  350  men  for  a  standing  army,  out  of  which  eighty  were  to 
be  taken  from  Fairfield  county.  Major  Treat  having  been  elected  deputy- 
governor,  Major  John  Talcott  of  Hartford  was  appointed  chief  in  com- 
mand, and  was  ordered  to  be  at  Norwich  with  his  forces  by  the  2/th  of 
the  month.  Captain  Jonathan  Selleck  of  Stamford,  was  chosen  captain 
of  the  Fairfield  county  troops,  and  Cornelius  Hull  and  John  Morehouse 
of  Fairfield  ensigns.  Each  county  was  ordered  to  send  several  hundred 
bushels  of  wheat  and  other  provisions,  out  of  which  Fairfield  county  was 
to  send  four  hundred  bushels  of  wheat,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  bushels 
of  Indian  corn  and  peas. 

The  council  of  war  met  on  the  i8th,  and,  as  the  agents  sent  to  treat 
with  the  Indians  had  in  vain  endeavored  to  make  peace  with  them,  it 
was  resolved  to  suspend  all  controversies,  and  to  prosecute  the  war 
vigorously. 

The  following  day  (May  19),  the  Indians  assembled  near  Deerfield,  and 
were  attacked  by  a  party  of  160  soldiers  from  Hadley,  Hatfield,  and 
Northampton.  Two  hundred  of  their  number  were  slain,  and  but  one 
Englishman  killed.  They  rallied,  however,  from  their  defeat  while  the 
army  was  returning  to  Hadley,  fell  upon  its  rear,  and  killed  Captain  Tur- 
ner and  thirty-seven  of  his  men.  This  battle  has  ever  since  been  called 
the  great  "  Falls  Fight." 

The  following  day  Captain  Benjamin  Newbery,  with  eighty  men  was 
sent  to  defend  Northampton  and  the  adjacent  plantations.  He  reported 
to  the  council  that  there  were  about  three  hundred  Indians  at  Brookfield  ; 
and  suggested  that  if  Major  Talcott  with  his  forces  could  be  sent  to  join 
him,  he  thought  an  attack  upon  them  might  be  successfully  made. 

On  the  24th,  Major  Treat  received  orders  to  march  with  his  forces  to 
the  Nipmuck  country.  A  few  days  after  he  left  Norwich  with  two  hun- 

"""  Governor  John  Winthrop  died  at  Boston,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1676,  in  the  seventy-first  year 
of  his  age.  He  was  chosen  governor  in  1657,  and  deputy  governor  the  next  year.  He  was  again 
chosen  governor  in  1669,  and  was  annually  elected  to  this  office  until  his  death.  He  was  the  son 
of  Governor  John  Winthrop  of  Massachusetts.  Under  a  commission  in  1635,  from  Lord  Say  and 
Seal,  he  erected  the  fort  at  Saybrook.  and  was  also  appointed  governor  of  the  adjacent  country. 
Trumbull  says  of  him  :  "  He  was  one  of  the  greatest  chymists  of  his  age,  a  member  of  the  royal 
society  of  philosophical  transactions,  &  one  of  the  most  distinguished  characters  of  New  Eng- 
land." He  rendered  great  and  important  services  to  Connecticut  both  at  home  and  abroad  ;  and 
his  death  was  regarded  a  universal  calamity  to  the  colony,  and  to  all  New  England. 


1676]  AN   INTERESTING  DECADE  195 

dred  and  fifty  English  soldiers,  and  two  hundred  Mohegan,  Pequot,  and 
friendly  Indians.  They  scoured  the  woods  and  country  on  their  march 
northward  ;  but  everywhere  found  the  forts  and  wigwams  of  the  enemy 
deserted.  On  the  5th  of  June,  they  entered  the  Nipmuck  country,  and 
falling  upon  Chanagongum,  they  killed  nineteen  Indians,  and  took  captive 
thirty-three  more.  Major  Talcott  then  marched  rapidly  through  Brook- 
field  to  Northampton.  On  account  of  the  length  of  this  march,  and  the 
fatigue  and  hunger  endured  by  the  officers  and  soldiers,  it  has  ever  since 
been  called,  "  the  long  &  hungry  march."  Great  disappointment  was 
here  experienced  by  Major  Talcott,  that  the  Massachusetts  troops  had  not 
arrived,  which  he  had  been  notified  would  join  him  at  Hadley.""  Four 
days  after,  about  seven  hundred  Indians  made  a  furious  attack  upon  Had- 
ley.  A  large  body  of  this  number  lay  in  ambush  in  the  road,  between 
Northampton  and  Hadley,  in  order  to  attack  the  English  forces;  but,  dis- 
covering their  design,  Major  Talcott  by  a  circuitous  route  led  his  forces  to 
the  scene  of  action,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  place.  Several  houses 
outside  the  fortifications  were  burned.  The  men  who  ventured  out  of  the 
garrison  to  save  them,  were  killed  or  wounded.  A  number  of  horses,  cat- 
tle and  sheep  were  slain  or  taken  away. 

On  the  pth  Major  Gold  "  &  the  gentry  of  that  county,"  received 
orders  to  forward  forthwith  to  New  London  for  the  famishing  army,  two 
hundred  bushels  of  wheat  baked  into  bread,  and  several  barrels  of  meat. 
On  the  2ist  Major  Talcott  reported  to  the  council,  that  he  had  scoured  the 
country  on  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut  as  far  as  the  falls  above  Pacom- 
tock,  and  found  the  Indians  had  retired  back  towards  Watchosuck  into  the 
Nipmuck  country. 

The  council  directed  him  as  soon  as  the  recruits,  provisions,  etc.,  arrived, 
"  to  march  out  against  the  enemy,  &  to  attack  &  destroy  them,  as  God 
should  deliver  them  into  their  hands.''  A  few  days  after,  the  Massachu- 
setts troops  joined  Major  Talcott.  He  immediately  set  out  with  a  goodly 
army  towards  the  Narragansett  country.  On  the  1st  of  July  he  took  four 
of  the  enemy  prisoners.  The  following  day  (the  Lord's  day),  a  large  party 
of  Indians  was  discovered  in  a  great  spruce  swamp.  They  were  surrounded 
by  the  English  and  Indian  allies,  "and  within  three  hours  171  were  slain 
or  taken  prisoners."  Among  them  were  forty-five  women  and  children, 
who  were  saved.  Among  the  slain  was  the  sunck  squaw  Magnus,  sister  of 

*  It  appears  that  the  Massachusetts  forces  under  Captain  Henchman,  were  retarded  in  their 
march  to  Hadley,  by  coming  upon  a  party  of  thirty-six  Indians  fishing  near  Lancaster,  of  whom 
they  killed  seven,  and  took  twenty-nine,  mostly  women  and  children,  prisoners. — Drake's  Old 
Indian  Chronicle. 


196  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1676 

Ninigret  and  wife  of  Meika,  a  son  of  Canonicus.  Her  chief  counselor  was 
also  killed,  and  fifteen  arms  taken. 

The  following  day  Major  Talcott  continued  his  march  towards  Provi- 
dence, where  it  had  been  reported  a  body  of  the  enemy  had  fled  to  make 
peace  with  the  people  of  Rhode  Island.  He  surrounded  Providence  neck, 
and  the  same  day  Warwick  neck,  where  his  men  slew  and  took  captive  sixty- 
seven  more  Indians  and  eleven  arms.  The  whole  number  taken  and  slain  in 
these  two  engagements  was  238.  Major  Talcott  lost  but  one  Indian  in 
both  engagements,  and  not  one  Englishman.  The  same  day  news  reached 
the  major,  that  Philip  was  making  his  way  towards  Mount  Hope.  He  at 
once  resolved  to  overtake  him ;  but  his  Indians  refused  to  accompany 
him,  although  the  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fitch  of  Norwich,  used  every 
argument  to  persuade  them  to  go.  The  major  wisely  determined  not  to 
part  with  them,  and  therefore  on  the  4th  halted  at  Richard  Smith's 
house,  one  of  the  strongest  fortifications  at  Narragansett.*  The  following 
day,  hearing  the  enemy  was  largely  concentrated  in  those  parts,  on  the  5th 
he  encompassed  Boston  neck  and  Port  Judith,  "but  found  only  one  old 
woman  who  was  fast  asleep."  That  night  he  and  his  men  quartered  at 
Thomas  Stanton's  farm-house  at  Monacontange,  and  the  following  day, 
being  short  of  provisions,  he  set  out  towards  home.  On  the  way  sixty  more 
of  the  enemy  were  taken.  From  the  beginning  of  April  to  the  6th  of  July, 
the  Connecticut  volunteers  and  the  troops  under  Major  Talcott,  killed  and 
captured  about  420  of  the  enemy,  f 

Upon  receiving  a  letter  from  Major  Talcott,  dated  July  4th,  giving  an 
account  of  his  successful  campaign,  the  council  resolved  to  prosecute  the 
war  as  expeditiously  as  possible.  On  the  8th  orders  were  sent  to  the  Major 
to  recruit  his  army  ;  and  by  way  of  encouraging  the  Indians  to  join  him,  to 
offer  them  ammunition,  Indian  corn,  and  all  the  plunder  they  could  obtain 
during  their  march.  The  soldiers  from  Fairfield  and  the  seaside,  were 
ordered  to  furnish  supplies  for  the  army  at  the  rate  of  "  about  five  pounds 
of  cheese  or  meat,  &  fifteen  pounds  of  bread  to  a  man."  The  magis- 
trates of  the  towns  were  to  impress  men  for  the  service,  and  each  man  was 
offered  a  horse  and  a  quart  of  liquor.  The  soldiers  were  to  take  with  them 
"  as  many  cutlasses  as  they  could." 

Men  driving  carts  and  horses,  laden  with  newly  baked  bread  from  the 
great  old-fashioned  ovens  of  the  mothers  of  Fairfield,  were  again  seen 
making  their  way  to  Captain  Todd's  vessel  at  Black  Rock,  which  had  been 
sent  from  New  Haven  for  that  purpose.  About  this  time  the  council 
received  information  from  Major  Andros,  that  the  Mohawks  had  attacked 

*  Drake's  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  p.  180.         f  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  348. 


1677]  AN   INTERESTING  DECADE  197 

Philip's  allies,  in  a  venture  they  had  made  towards  Albany,  and  not  only 
slain  many  of  them,  but  taken  several  prisoners.  The  council  at  once 
gave  orders,  if  the  Mohawks  approached  the  river  towns  for  supplies,  to 
encourage  friendly  feelings  by  giving  them  relief.'* 

The  condition  of  the  enemy  at  this  time  was  most  distressing.  The  loss 
of  their  forts,  wigwams  and  stores  had  caused  great  suffering  among  them. 
They  had  been  unable  to  plant  corn  and  beans  during  the  spring,  and  they 
were  almost  wholly  without  provisions.  During  the  extreme  cold  of  the 
winter,  they  had  sought  refuge  in  dense  forests,  and  subsisted  upon  nuts 
and  such  game  and  fish  as  they  could  obtain.  Within  the  last  few  months, 
one  defeat  after  another  had  followed  in  quick  succession.  Famished, 
discouraged  and  overwhelmed  by  their  hopeless  condition,  they  separated, 
and  in  flying  companies  sought  refuge  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
Many  surrendered  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  English.  About 
the  2oth  of  July,  the  council  wrote  to  Governor  Andros  that  a  large 
party  of  Indians  had  approached  Westfield  and  carried  away  horses, 
cattle  and  sweet  corn  ;  but  being  pursued  by  some  of  the  garrison  had  fled 
towards  the  Hudson,  and  passed  southward  of  the  road  to  Albany,  in  order 
to  avoid  the  Mohawks.  They  requested  Andros  to  intercept  them,  so  as 
if  possible  to  prevent  their  seeking  refuge  among  the  hostile  Indians  of 
Virginia. 

Meanwhile  Major  Talcott,  having  recruited  his  army,  was  marching 
northward,  and  reached  Westfield  in  time  to  pursue  the  flying  Indians. 
Three  days  after  their  attack  upon  that  town,  he  discovered  them  lying 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Housatonic  river.  It  was  too  late  in  the  day  to 
approach  them,  consequently  the  army  preserving  great  silence,  rested 
upon  their  arms  over  night.  Before  daybreak  they  were  formed  in  two 
divisions,  one  of  which  was  to  cross  the  river  below  the  enemy  and  encom- 
pass them  on  that  side,  while  the  other  was  creeping  quietly  up  the 
east  bank  of  the  river,  prepared  to  fire  when  those  on  the  west  side,  upon 
reaching  their  position,  should  fire  a  single  gun.  While  the  division  on 
the  west  side  was  advancing  to  surround  the  enemy,  they  were  discovered 
by  an  Indian,  who  had  left  his  sleeping  companions  and  gone  down  the 
river  to  fish.  He  at  once  gave  the  alarm,  crying  Awanux  !  Awanux  !  One 
of  the  party  fired  and  killed  him  instantly  ;  but  the  shot  was  taken  for  the 
signal  gun  by  those  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  who  at  once  rushed  upon 
the  enemy  as  they  were  rousing  from  their  sleep,  and  killed  and  wounded 
a  large  number  of  them.  The  others  fled  to  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
and,  as  the  division  on  that  side  had  not  reached  their  destination,  they 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  464. 


198  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1676 

made  good  their  escape.  In  the  attack,  the  chief  sachem  of  Brookfield 
was  killed.  Forty  others  were  slain  and  fifteen  taken  captive.  Among 
the  slain  were  twenty-five  warriors. 

From  a  letter  sent  by  the  council  to  Major  Andros,  dated  August  iQth, 
it  appears  that  the  above  party  of  Indians,  numbering  about  150,  were 
making  their  way  to  a  fort  at  Paquiage,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson, 
where  they  were  to  be  received  and  sheltered  by  friendly  Indians  ;  and  as 
soon  as  they  were  sufficiently  reinforced,  to  make  another  attack  upon  the 
English  plantations.  This  design  was  happily  defeated  by  Major  Tal- 
cott's  victory.  Meanwhile  Major  Church,  of  the  Plymouth  colony,  and 
the  Massachusetts  forces  had  been  very  successful  in  taking  parties  of  the 
enemy.  Several  Indians,  in  order  to  save  their  lives,  betrayed  the  hiding 
places  of  their  friends.  In  this  way,  King  Philip  was  hunted  for  weeks 
from  place  to  place.  His  wife  and  family  had  been  taken  prisoners,  his 
brother  and  chief  councilors  had  been  slain  ;  but  not  for  one  instant  did  he 
yield  to  any  suggestions  of  peace.  At  last  he  was  betrayed  by  an  Indian, 
whose  brother  he  had  shot  for  presuming  to  approach  him  with  proposals 
of  peace. 

On  the  ipth  of  August,  one  James  Shore,  from  Rhode  Island,  came  in 
a  vessel  to  Fairfield,  and  reported  that  one  of  Philip's  men,  having  become 
discontented,  had  gone  before  the  authorities  at  Rhode  Island  and  offered 
to  guide  the  English  to  a  swamp  where  he  lay.  "  Whereupon  Capt.  Sand- 
ford  with  a  picked  company  of  stout  &  able  men  English,  &  Indians  hast- 
ened away  &  being  come  to  ye  place  which  ye  Indian  had  described  to 
them,  by  his  directions  laid  some  English  &  Ind :  in  ambush  at  ye  passage  . 
out,  &  the  rest  brake  in  upon  them  on  the  other  side.  Philip  in  laboring 
to  escape  was  shot  at  Ist  by  ye  English  but  missed,  &  then  shot  down  by 
an  Indian.  All  the  rest,  but  one  were  killed  &  one  or  two  wounded 
escaping.  They  cut  off  Philip's  head  &  hands  &  brought  them  away."  * 

Thus  died  one  of  the  bravest  Indian  warriors  in  New  England.  Believ- 
ing he  was  fighting  for  the  honor  of  his  country,  and  having  lost  at  the 
hands  of  the  English  and  their  Indian  allies,  his  wife,  children,  brother 
and.  principal  warriors,  he  treated  with  disdain  every  overture  of  peace 
from  them,  preferring  death  at  their  hands. 

Upon  hearing  of  Philip's  death,  the  Indians  in  arms  either  submitted  to 

*  Philip  having  one  very  remarkable  hand,  being  much  scarred,  occasioned  by  splitting  of  a 
pistol  in  it  formerly.  Capt.  Church  gave  the  head  and  hands  to  Alderman,  the  Indian  who  shot 
him,  to  show  to  such  gentlemen  as  would  bestow  gratuities  upon  him,  and  accordingly  he  got 
many  a  penny  by  it.  [Church's  History  of  Ind.  War.]  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  471.  The  news 
of  Philip's  death  was  sent  by  William  Jones,  of  New  Haven,  to  Governor  Leete  at  Hartford. 


1676]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  199 

the  English,  or  fled  to  the  Indians  in  Canada,  and  to  the  Mohegans  upon 
the  Hudson  river.  It  has  been  estimated  that  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  Philip  and  his  brother  Wetamoe  had  about  500  warriors,  and  the 
Narragansetts  2,000.  The  Nipmucks  and  other  hostile  northern  tribes, 
numbered  about  500  more,  making  in  all,  independent  of  the  eastern 
Indians,  about  three  thousand  engaged  in  the  plot  to  exterminate  the 
English.  At  the  sitting  of  the  General  Assembly  in  October,  John  Banks 
of  Fairfield,  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  hear  and  settle  the 
claims  of  the  Mohegans,  Pequots,  Narragansetts  and  other  Indian  allies 
of  the  English.  All  captives  who  were  proved  murderers  were  sentenced 
to  death. 

The  sunck  squaw,  Ninigret's  daughter,  with  about  one  hundred  of  her 
men,  was  granted  a  reservation  lying  between  Westerly  and  Hopkinton, 
Rhode  Island,  provided  she  preserved  peace  with  the  English,  and  did  not 
entertain  hostile  Indians.  Other  Indians  were  granted  small  parcels  of 
land  upon  the  same  terms.  All  young  and  single  Indians  of  both  sexes, 
were  ordered  to  be  taken  into  English  families,  and  as  a  pledge  of  their 
fidelity,  to  be  apprenticed  to  ten  years'  service,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time,  they  were  to  be  granted  their  liberty  if  they  proved  loyal,  otherwise 
they  were  to  be  sold  into  slavery. 

A  list  was  taken  of  the  Indians,  and  a  yearly  tax  of  5^.  a  head  laid  upon 
every  grown  man.  A  division  of  the  prisoners  was  made  among  the 
counties.  One  man  in  each  county  was  appointed  to  receive  and  place  its 
proportion  of  captives  in  families.  John  Banks  was  awarded  this  duty  for 
Fairfield  county.* 

Major  Treat  was  given  authority  to  raise  an  army  of  volunteers,  to  kill 
and  destroy  all  hostile  Indians  and  all  such  as  had  escaped  from  the 
English.  Cohause,  an  Indian  who  wounded  William  Hill,  and  who  had 
killed  several  Englishmen,  burned  an  English  house  and  been  engaged  in 
several  robberies,  having  been  captured  between  Milford  and  New  Haven, 
and  having  been  "  a  desperate  enemy  of  the  English  "  was  sentenced  by 
the  Assembly  as  "  child  of  death,"  to  be  put  to  death,  "  which  was  done  by 
the  Indians." 

Ninigret  or  Ninicroft  and  his  men,  having  remained  faithful  to  the 
English,  were  allowed  to  remain  unmolested  in  the  ownership  of  their 
lands.  The  Mohawks  rendered  great  assistance  during  this  war,  and 
proved  useful  friends  of  the  New  England  colonies.  William  Hill  was 
appointed  to  sign  receipts  for  the  colony  tax,  which  was  now  18  pence 

*  The  widow  of  Surgeon  William  Ward,  of  Fairfield,  was  presented  by  the  General  Assembly 
with  one  of  the  young  Indian  boys. — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  14. 


200  HISTORY    OF  FAIRFIELD  [1676 

upon  a  pound.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  value  the  lands  in  the 
several  plantations.  House  lots  in  Fairfield  were  valued  at  2$s.  per  acre; 
one-fourth  of  the  improved  farming  lands  at  2Os.  and  the  other  three- 
fourths  at  14s.  per  acre.  The  taxable  estates  of  the  town  were  valued  at 

£9,428. 

For  the  plentiful  harvest  of  the  summer  ;  the  removal  of  sickness  from 
the  plantations;  the  continuation  of  their  civil  and  ecclesiastical  liberties, 
and  the  divine  aid  they  had  received  in  subduing  their  savage  enemies, 
the  third  Wednesday  of  November  was  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanks- 
giving throughout  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  During  this  cruel  and 
devastating  war,  Fairfield  became  the  leading  town  in  the  number  of  its 
volunteers,  and  in  its  bountiful  supply  of  provisions  for  the  army.  The 
old-fashioned  chimney  ovens  of  the  matrons  of  Fairfield  were  filled  with 
loaves  of  wheaten  bread,  which  they  packed  in  barrels,  to  be  sent  from 
Black  Rock  to  New  London.  Mothers,  wives,  and  sisters  spun  wool  and 
linen,  out  of  which  they  made  warm  blankets  and  clothing  for  their  own 
families,  and  others  who  were  destitute.  Every  spare  moment,  from  early 
dawn  until  late  at  night,  at  the  spinning  wheel,  and  with  flying  knitting 
needles,  was  employed  in  making  warm  woolen  stockings  for  the  feet  of  the 
sufferers.  The  mills  of  the  town  were  kept  in  almost  constant  motion  dur- 
ing the  winter,  to  supply  wheaten  flour  for  her  own  and  the  Massachu- 
setts and  Plymouth  soldiers.  The  blacksmiths,  who  combined  the  art  of 
repairing  guns  with  their  trade,  were  equally  as  busy;  and  with  the  gold- 
smiths ran  shot  and  bullet-balls  for  the  soldiers.  In  all  New  England 
there  was  not  a  more  energetic,  constant  laborer,  in  forwarding  men, 
ammunition  and  supplies  for  the  united  colonies,  than  Major  Gold.  John 
Banks  and  Jehu  Burr,  in  their  positions  as  members  of  the  council  of  war, 
from  their  post  of  duty  at  Hartford,  were  among  the  ablest  councilors  in 
the  New  England  colonies.  Through  Major  Gold,  dispatches  were  sent 
by  the  council  to  Major  Andros,  and  John  Banks,  in  several  instances, 
delivered  them  in  person.  Sergeant  William  Ward  rendered  great  assist- 
ance to  the  Rev.  Gershom  Buckley,*  besides  having  the  care  of  the  troops 
at  New  London.  To  picture  Fairfield  at  this  time,  is  to  exhibit  a  busy, 
bustling,  thriving  town,  a  centre  of  civil  and  military  activity.  Like  most 
of  the  western  towns  of  Connecticut,  the  inhabitants  experienced  none  of 
the  losses,  devastations  by  fire  and  cruelties  of  the  savages,  which  the 
towns  in  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  the  colony  suffered.  "  There 
were  but  few  families  or  individuals,  however,  who  had  not  lost  some  near 

*  Gershom  Buckley,  a  brother  of  Thomas  and  Peter  Buckley  of  Fairfield,  was  one  of  the 
greatest  surgeons  of  his  day,  and  was  the  chief  surgeon  of  the  Connecticut  forces  in  Philip's  war. 


1676]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  2OI 

relative  or  friend."*  The  sons  of  almost  every  leading  family  in  the 
town  were  in  the  regular  army,  or  among  the  volunteers.  The  brave 
troops  of  Connecticut,  of  which  Fairfield  always  contributed  a  goodly 
share,  had  the  honor  and  happiness  of  giving  a  check  to  the  war ;  and  it 
is  a  singular  fact,  that  in  all  the  companies  sent  out,  not  one  was  surprised 
or  cut  off.  At  least  one-seventh  part  of  the  whole  militia,  besides  the 
volunteers  of  Connecticut,  were  in  constant  service;  and  every  man  and 
youth  in  the  colony  capable  of  bearing  arms,  did  his  duty  in  watching, 
warding,  and  protecting  the  towns  from  the  neighboring  Indians,  should 
they  prove  troublesome. 

It  docs  not  appear  that  the  Fairfield  Indians  committed  hostilities 
upon  the  planters  ;  but  in  the  heart  of  almost  every  sachem  in  the  country, 
dwelt  the  spirit  of  jealousy,  which  gave  cause  at  all  times  for  constant 
vigilance.  Indeed  "  eternal  vigilance  was  the  price  of  liberty  "  to  all  the 
planters  of  New  England.  Some  of  the  Indians  of  Fairfield  shared  in  the 
glory  of  this  war,  of  which  mention  has  already  been  made. 

The  troops  and  volunteers  of  Connecticut  were  now  disbanded  ;  but 
each  county  kept  a  military  force  ready  for  service,  in  any  sudden  emer- 
gency. 

Great  pains  was  taken  this  year  to  promote  Christian  training  in  fami- 
lies, which  resulted  in  the  passage  of  the  following  law  by  the  General 
Court : 

"  Whereas  reading  the  Bible,  catechising  of  children  &  daily  prayer  is  part  of  God's 
worship,  &  the  homage  due  to  Him,  to  be  attended  conscientiously  by  every  Christian 
family  to  distinguish  them  from  the  heathen,  \vho  call  not  upon  God,  this  Court  recom- 
mends the  ministers  in  the  towns  to  visit  each  family,  &  inquire  into  the  state  of  religious 
training,  to  convince  &:  instruct  them  in  their  duty,  &  by  all  due  means  to  encourage 
them,  that  none  may  be  found  among  us  utterly  ignorant  or  profane." 

The  officers  and  families  of  each  town  were  called  upon  to  assist  the 
clergyman  in  his  work.  If  any  heads  or  governors  of  families  proved  obsti- 
nate or  refractory,  the  grand  jury  was  to  present  such  persons  to  the  county 
court,  to  be  fined  or  punished,  or  bound  to  good  behavior,  according  to 
the  merits  of  the  case.  All  persons  sojourning  or  living  in  families  were 
required  by  law  to  attend  the  worship  of  God,  "  &  to  be  subject  to  the 
domestic  government  of  the  said  families,  under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings 
for  every  breach  of  this  order."  It  was  also  made  a  law  that  no  children 

*  About  six  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of  New  England,  the  greater  part  of  whom  were  the 
flower  and  strength  of  the  country,  either  fell  in  battle,  or  were  murdered  by  the  enemy. — T rum- 
bull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  368. 


202  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1676 

should  be  able  to  dispose  of  themselves,  under  pretense  of  lawful  marriage, 
without  the  consent  of  their  parents,  or  without  the  approbation  of  the 
authorities  of  the  place.  Before  any  man  was  allowed  to  enter  into  the 
holy  state  of  wedlock,  he  was  required  to  make  known  his  intentions  to 
the  parents  or  guardians  of  the  woman  he  wished  to  marry.  If  the  woman 
was  without  either,  he  was  obliged  to  consult  with  and  gain  permission 
from  the  town  authorities,  before  he  was  permitted  to  pursue  his  court- 
ship. It  was  also  a  law  that  the  nuptials  should  not  be  celebrated  until 
eight  days  after  the  marriage  contract,  during  which  time  the  names  of 
the  parties  to  be  married,  were  required  to  be  published  in  some  public 
meeting. 

That  a  more  strict  regard  might  be  paid  to  the  Sabbath,  than  appears 
to  have  been  observed  during  the  religious  excitement  which  had  prevailed 
in  the  colony,  the  following  law  was  passed:  • 

"  Whereas,  Notwithstanding  former  provision  made  for  the  due  sanctification  of  the 
Sabbath,  it  is  observed  that  by  sundry  abuses  the  Sabbath  is  profaned,  the  ordinances  ren- 
dered unprofitable,  which  threatens  the  rooting  out  of  the  power  of  Godliness,  &  the 
procuring  of  the  wrath  &  judgements  of  God  upon  us  &  our  posterity,  for  prevention 
whereof,  it  is  ordered  by  this  Court,  that  if  any  person  or  persons  henceforth,  either  on  the 
Saturday  night,  or  on  the  Lord's  Day  night,  though  it  be  after  the  sun  is  set,  shall  be 
found  sporting  in  the  streets  or  fields  of  any  town  in  this  Jurisdiction,  or  be  drinking  in 
the  houses  of  public  entertainment,  or  elsewhere,  unless  for  necessity,  every  such  person 
so  found,  complained  of  &  proved  transgressing,  shall  pay  ten  shillings  for  every  such 
transgression,  or  suffer  corporal  punishment  for  default  of  due  payment;  nor  shall  any 
sell  or  draw  any  sort  of  strong  drinks  at  any  time,  or  be  used  in  any  such  manner  upon 
the  like  penalty  of  every  default." 

"  It  is  also  further  ordered  that  no  servile  work  shall  be  done  on  the  Sabbath,  viz  : 
such  as  are  not  works  of  piety,  charity,  or  necessity,  &  no  piofane  discourse  or  talk,  rude 
or  unreverent  behaviour  shall  be  used  on  that  holy  day,  upon  the  penalty  of  ten  shillings 
for  every  transgression  hereof  ;  &  in  case  it  be  circumstanced  with  high  handed  pre- 
sumption as  well  as  profaneness,  the  penalty  is  to  be  augmented  at  the  discretion  of  one 
of  the  judges."  * 

In  order  to  suppress  extravagance,  as  well  as  to  discourage  persons  of 
humble  walks  in  life  from  aiming  to  appear  in  public  above  their  station, 
the  following  law  was  passed  : 

"Whereas,  excess  in  apparell  amongst  us  is  unbecoming  a  wilderness  condition,  &  the 
profession  of  the  gospel,  whereby  the  rising  generation  is  in  clanger  to  be  corrupted,  which 
practices  are  testified  against  in  God's  Holy  Word.  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  Courte 
&  authority  thereof  that  whatsoever  person  shall  wear  gold  or  silver  lace,  or  gold  or  silver 
buttons,  silk  ribbons,  or  other  superfluous  trimings,  or  any  bone-lace  above  three  shil- 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II.,  280. 


1677]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  203 

lings  per  yard,  or  silk  scarfs,  the  list  makers  of  the  respective  towns  are  hereby  required 
to  assesse  such  persons  so  offending  (or  their  husbands,  parents  or  masters,  under  whose 
government  they  are,)  in  the  list  of  estates,  &  they  to  pay  their  rates  according  to  that 
proportion,  as  such  men  use  to  pay  to  whom  such  apparell  is  allowed  as  suitable  to  their 
ranke  :  provided  this  law  shall  not  extend  to  any  magistrate  or  public  officer  of  the 
co  ony,  their  wives  or  children,  whoe  are  left  to  their  discression  in  wearing  of  apparell, 
or  any  settled  military  commission  officer,  or  such  whose  quality  ;.nd  estate  have  been 
above  the  ordinary  degree  though  now  decayed." 

"  It  is  further  ordered  that  all  such  persons  as  shall  for  the  future  make,  or  wear,  or 
buy  apparell  exceeding  the  quality  £  condition  of  their  persons  &  estates,  or  that  is  appa- 
rently beyond  the  necessary  end  of  apparell  for  covering  or  comliness,  either  of  these  to 
be  judged  by  the  Grand  Jury  &  County  Court  where  such  presentments  are  made,  shall 
forfeit  for  every  such  offence  ten  shillings.  And  if  any  taylor  shall  fashion  any  garment 
for  any  child  or  servant,  contrary  to  the  mind  of  the  parent  or  master  of  such  child  or 
servant,  he  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  offence  ten  shillings." 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  strong  effort  made  by  the  governor  and 
magistrates  of  Connecticut  at  this  time,  to  meet  the  increasing  demand  of 
the  people,  in  regard  to  the  method  of  ecclesiastical  taxation.  In  October 
the  General  Court  ordered,  that  where  there  was  more  than  one  religious 
society  in  a  town,  all  persons  should  pay  to  one  or  both  of  them  towards 
the  minister's  maintenance,  viz.  : 

"  If  they  shall  choose  to  pay  to  one,  they  shall  pay  in  full  proportion  to  the  rest  of 
that  society  ;  if  not,  they  shall  pay  to  both  societies  :  the  one  half  of  every  such  person's 
estate  shall  be  rated  with  the  people  of  one  society  :  &  the  other  half  of  their  estate  with 
those  of  the  other  society,  in  full  proportion  with  their  neighbors  of  each  society." 

The  bitter  experiences  of  the  New  England  planters  at  this  time  in 
their  religious  as  well  as  civil  troubles,  and  the  terrible  war  with  the  Indi- 
ans, led  the  General  Court  to  urge  upon  all  the  ministers  of  the  colony, 
"  to  stir  up  &  awaken  their  congregations  to  the  duties  of  serious  repent- 
ance &  reformation,"  for  which  purpose  the  third  Wednesday  in  Novem- 
ber was  set  apart. 

In  the  month  of  September  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield  invited  Richard 
Burgiss  of  Boston,  a  blacksmith,  to  settle  among  them  ;  and  as  an  induce- 
ment for  him  to  remain,  he  was  granted  a  small  piece  of  land  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  church-green  for  his  shop,  and  an  interest  in  the  per- 
petual common  for  pasture  and  wood.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  on 
the  9th  of  January  following  the  above  lands  were  confirmed  to  him.  His 
shop  for  many  years  stood  on  the  Church-green,  south-west  of  the  meet- 
ing-house and  school-house.* 

*  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  61. 


204  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1677 

In  January  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  received  from  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Mather  of  Ireland,  one  thousand  pounds,  "to  be  divided  among  the  colo- 
nies for  the  relief  of  the  distressed."  On  account  of  the  great  suffering  of 
the  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  towns,  several  of  which  had  been  wholly 
cut  off,  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  at  this  time,  presented  these 
two  colonies  with  their  proportion  of  this  gift.  At  the  May  election 
Major  Gold  continued  in  his  office  of  assistant  to  the  General  Assembly  ; 
John  Banks  and  John  Wheeler  were  chosen  deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr  and 
John  Banks  commissioners.  A  law  was  passed  to  prevent  the  exportation 
from  the  colony  of  buck  and  doe  skins,  "  \\hich  had  been  so  serviceable  & 
useful  for  clothing,"  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiting  the  full  value  of  each 
skin.  It  appears  that  Sasco  James  made  an  application  to  the  Assembly 
at  this  time,  for  the  release  from  prison  of  an  Indian  by  the  name  of  Alin- 
chanks  which  was  refused  ;  the  cause  of  his  arrest  does  not  appear. 

The  officers  who  had  served  in  Philip's  war,  were  honored  with  the 
same  position  in  the  train-bands  of  their  respective  towns,  as  they  held 
during  the  war,  or  a  portion  of  the  band,  even  if  commanded  by  a  militia 
officer.  They  were  also  freed  from  half  their  watch  and  ward  in  times  of 
peace.  John  Banks  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  be  present  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  John  Bull,  in  the  conquered  Narragansett  country,  on  the 
loth  of  June,  to  meet  with  a  committee  from  Massachusetts,  to  examine 
the  lands,  and  to  judge  what  parts  were  suitable  for  plantations,  the 
number  of  inhabitants  to  form  settlements,  and  to  fix  the  bounds  of  each 
town.* 

The  Assembly  considered  that  the  Connecticut  troops  had  largely  con- 
quered and  subdued  the  Narragansetts,  and  therefore  had  just  claims  to 
those  lands.  In  view  of  this  fact,  they  regarded  the  act  of  the  king's 
commissioners,  in  making  Narragansett  and  Rhode  Island  the  king's 
province  null,  by  virtue  of  their  conquests. 

While  the  Narragansetts  and  their  allies  were  conquered,  the  remnant  of 
their  tribes  still  continued  to  afflict  the  border  plantations.  In  considera- 
tion of  this  grievance,  the  secret  efforts  of  Major  Andros  and  his  asso- 
ciates to  gain  control  of  the  chief  offices  of  Connecticut,  and  the  suffer- 
ings of  their  sister  colonies  from  the  eastern  Indians,  the  last  day  of  May 
was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  specially  for  blessing  upon 
their  cause  before  the  king  of  England.  The  colony  tax  was  reduced  to 
%d.  on  a  pound,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  late  war,  to  be  paid  in 
wheat,  peas,  Indian  corn,  pork  and  beef,  at  their  legal  rates.  A  law  was 

*  See  John  Banks  and  Major  Talcott's  report,  dated  June  16,  1777 — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  589, 
590. 


1678]  AN   INTERESTING  DECADE  2O$ 

passed  regulating  the  price  of  tanning  hides,  also  for  shoemakers.  No 
shoemaker  was  allowed  to  charge  over  five  pence  half  penny  for  plain 
and  wooden-heeled  shoes,  above  men's  sevens  three  soled  ;  nor  "  above 
seven  pence  half  penny  for  well  wrought  French  falls."  Lieutenant  Cor- 
nelius Hull  was  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  to  be  laid  out  to  him 
where  he  should  choose  to  select  it  at  Fairfield,  provided  it  did  not  inter- 
fere with  other  grants.  John  Banks  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to 
audit  the  colonial  treasurer's  account. 

The  leading  men  of  Connecticut  had,  at  this  time,  cause  for  increased 
anxiety  in  regard  to  their  chartered  liberties.  Enemies  to  their  peace 
had  been  busy  during  the  war  both  at  home  and  in  England.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  continuation  of  this  unhappy  state  of  things,  the  2ist  of 
November  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer.  The  ministers 
throughout  the  colony  were  requested  "  to  stir  up  their  people  to  the  work 
of  solemn  humiliation  &  prayer,  with  turning  to  the  Lord  in  this  our  day 
of  Jacob's  trouble." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield,  November  2d,  Samuel  More- 
house  was  granted  liberty  to  erect  a  fence  across  the  highway  in  Uncoa 
neck,  with  gates  for  egress  and  regress.  This  fence  probably  stood  a  very 
short  distance  south-east  of  the  present  Black  Rock  bridge.  A  heavy  fine 
was  exacted  if  any  of  the  town  gates  were  left  open. 

To  prevent  fires,  every  house  owner  was  ordered  to  keep  a  long  ladder 
on  his  house.  This  custom  is  still  observed  by  some  of  the  farmers.  Each 
house  owner  was  also  ordered  "  to  sweep  his  chimneys  in  the  winter  once 
a  fortnight,  &  in  the  summer  once  a  month."  Richard  Wilson  was 
appointed  for  the  east  end  of  the  town,  and  Henry  Castle  for  the  west 
end.  If  the  chimney  sweepers  and  the  house  owners  could  not  agree 
about  the  necessity  of  sweeping  any  chimney,  they  were  to  submit  the 
question  to  some  indifferent  person.  In  November  Samuel  Morchouse 
and  the  rest  of  the  east  farmers,  were  granted  liberty  by  the  townsmen 
to  erect  a  stable  "  20  ft.  square,  &  9  ft.  broad  &  40  ft.  long,  at  some  con- 
venient place  on  the  Meeting-house  green." 

At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  chosen  an  assistant.  Jehu  Burr 
and  Richard  Hubbell  deputies,  and  William  Hill  and  Jehu  Burr  commis- 
sioners for  Fairfield.  Jehu  Burr  was  also  appointed  to  administer  the 
oath  of  a  commissioner  to  the  other  commissioners,  of  the  county.  John 
Banks  was  made  one  of  a  committee,  to  settle  the  bounds  between  Stam- 
ford and  Norwalk. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  June  25th,  it  was  voted  that  Richard  Ogden's 
mill  on  Mill  river  and  the  land  adjoining  it,  should  be  conveyed  to  him  by 


HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1678 

a  written  deed,  according  to  a  former  contract.  It  was  also  agreed  to  talk 
with  him  about  removing  the  mill.  Sergeant  George  Squire  was  appointed 
to  care  for  the  preservation  of  the  school  lands.  In  addition  to  the  school 
laws  already  passed,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  every  town  should 
keep  a  school  at  least  three  months  in  a  year,  or  forfeit  five  pounds, 
which  sum  should  be  paid  towards  the  maintenance  of  a  grammar  school 
in  the  county. 

In  order  "  to  stir  up  &  excite  the  county  towns  to  the  attendance  of  so 
wholesome  an  order  "  as  that  of  keeping  up  a  good  Latin  school,  it  was 
decreed,  that  if  any  of  the  county  towns  neglected  to  keep  such  a  school, 
they  should  pay  the  fine  of  ten  pounds  to  the  next  town  in  their  county 
which  accepted  this  requirement,  "  &  so  ten  pounds  annually,  till  they 
came  up  to  the  attendance  of  this  order."  The  schools  were  maintained 
by  a  general  tax,  unless  some  other  way  of  supporting  a  school-master  was 
adopted.  It  was  further  ordered  that  any  town  which  had  increased  to 
the  number  of  thirty  families,  should  maintain  a  school  "  to  teach  children 
to  read  &  write." 

The  town  of  Fairfield  granted  to  Mr.  Josiah  Harvey  the  overplus  of 
his  school  rate.  This  vote  gives  a  clue  to  the  school-master  of  the  central 
district  of  the  town  at  that  time. 

Isaac  Wheeler,  John  Odell  and  Mathew  Sherwood,  in  the  name  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Pequonnock,  presented  a  petition,  that  they  might  retain 
their  school  tax,  towards  maintaining  a  school  on  the  east  side  of  Uncoway 
river.  They  represented  that  as  they  lived  almost  four  miles  from  the 
centre  of  the  town,  they  found  it  very  difficult  to  send  their  children  so 
far  to  school,  "  &  if  any,  none  but  the  greatest  whom  [they]  cannot  spare 
to  send  constantly  abroad." — "  They  had  hired  a  school  master,  'who  had 
been  approved  on  that  account'  in  several  towns  in  the  colony ;  &  they 
had  forty  seven  children  already  entered  at  school,  besides  several  others, 
who  could  not  be  spared  except  in  winter.  They  desired  no  help  from 
the  town,  but  asked  '  that  they  might  be  freed  from  paying  to  the  town 
in  reference  to  their  school.'" 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakcman  added  his  recommendation  in  favor  of  the 
petition  in  the  following  words:  "The  above  petition,  brought  unto  me 
for  my  advice  &  countainance.  finds  me  as  an  unfeigned  well-wilier  to 
ye  (as  I  thinke)  honest  scope  of  your  said  petitioners,  &  carries  with  it  so 
reasonable  an  aspect,  yt  I  am  bold  to  subjoine  my  humble  request  to 
theyrs  (yt  other  difficulties  being  solved  (if  it  may  be)  by  your  prudent 
interposition  &  direction)  yt  may  find  you  ready  to  grant  theyr  desirs,  & 
further  them  in  theyr  well  ment  motion." 


1679]  AN    INTERESTING   DECADE 


2O7 


The  governor  and  assistants  recommended  the  court  of  Fairficld  to 
grant  to  the  planters  of  Pequonnock  as  much  as  they  could  spare  of  their 
county  taxes  and  fines,  for  the  settlement  and  encouragement  of  a  gram- 
mar school.* 

The  teacher  they  had  already  hired  was  Mat  hew  Bellamy.  He  had 
taught  at  Stamford  in  1658,  and  had  also  been  a  teacher  at  Guilford  and 
Killingworth,  and  was  at  Say  brook  in  1677.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  grandfather  of  the  noted  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy,  f 

The  following  year,  "  the  town  granted  unto  Mr.  Bellamy  one  acre  of 
land  on  the  east  side  of  Unquowa  River  for  a  building  lot,"  provided,  "  he 
be  a  school-master  within  the  town  of  Fairfield  seven  years  from  this 
date."  Two  acres  more  were  soon  after  added  to  this  grant.  In  case  he 
removed  before  the  expiration  of  seven  years,  he  was  to  forfeit  the  land 
to  the  town,  and  they  were  to  pay  him  for  such  improvements  as  he  had 
made  upon  it.  In  case  he  died  within  the  seven  years,  the  land  with  its 
improvements,  was  to  revert  to  his  wife  and  children.:}:  At  the  sitting  of 
the  October  Assembly,  it  was  voted  that  the  Indian  male  servants  living 
in  English  families,  should  be  taxed  as  other  persons  until  further  orders. 
The  colony  tax  was  reduced  to  three  pence  on  a  pound  to  be  paid  in 
county  pay.§ 

Increased  apprehensions  still  existed  among  the  leading  men  of  New 
England,  on  account  of  the  malicious  representations  made  against  them 
by  their'enemies  to  the  king  of  England.  Most  conspicuous  among  these 
was  Sir  Edward  Randolph,  who  came  to  Boston  in  1676;  and  annually, 
either  in  person  or  by  writing,  made  complaints  against  them,  specially  in 
regard  to  their  acts  of  trade  and  navigation.  Being  well  informed  of  the 
influences  at  work,  the  colonists  were  apprehensive  of  being  totally 
deprived  of  their  liberties. 

At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  continued  in  his  office  of  assistant  of 
the  General  Assembly,  John  Banks  and  Richard  Hubbell  were  re-elected 
as  deputies,  and  John  Burr  and  Jehu  Burr  were  made  commissioners. 

A  law  complimentary  to  the  king  was  passed  during  the  sitting  of  this 
Assembly,  which  was  as  follows: 

"This  Court  orders  that  the  present  roacles  from  plantation  to  plantation  shall  he 
reputed  the  country  roades  or  'King's  Highway,'  £  so  to  remayne  untill  the  Court  doe 
see  good  reason  to  make  alteration  of  the  same.  And  whereas  the  inhabitants  of  each 
plantation,  are  by  law  required  once  a  yeare  to  \vorke  a  day  in  cleareing  of  the  brush,  it 
is  by  this  Court  recommended  to  the  townesmen  of  the  several!  plantations,  to  improve 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  II..  8.  $  B,  Fairfield  Town  Votes,  1678. 

f  Sivajs's  G^ne-xlogicnl  Dictionary.         §  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  16. 


208  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1679 

their  inhabitants  in  cleareing  the  comon  roades,  in  the  first  place,  that  lye  between  towne 
&  towne,  vntill  the  sayd  roades  are  cleared  at  least  one  rod  wide." 

From  this  date  the  road  known  as  the  King's  Highway,  at  Fairfield, 
received  its  name. 

In  1679,  previous  to  which  time,  everything  connected  with  the  settle- 
ment of  Fairfield  appears  to  have  worn  a  most  encouraging  aspect,  the 
town  was  visited  by  a  most  alarming  epidemic.  But  little  information  is 
to  be  found  about  it,  or  what  the  character  of  the  disease  was,  which  made 
such  ravages  among  the  inhabitants.  From  a  document  to  be  found  in 
the  State  House,  at  Hartford,  the  following  account  is  given  : 

"Fairfield,  1679. — A  sore  sickness  attended  with  an  uncommon  mortality  in  this 
town,  though  very  healthy  in  the  neighboring-  towns.  There  died  about  70  persons  within 
three  months  &  there  was  hardly  enough  well  persons  to  tend  the  sick  &  bury  the  dead." 

New  England  was  generally  afflicted.  Sickness  prevailed  in  many  of 
the  settlements,  the  crops  were  visited  with  mildew  and  blight,  and  cater- 
pillars and  worms  destroyed  the  vegetables  and  fruits.  The  3d  of  June 
was  set  apart  by  the  General  Court  "as  a  day  of  public  humiliation  & 
prayer."  In  the  month  of  September  the  same  year,  "  the  '  Reformed 
Synod  '  met  at  Boston,  to  consider  the  evils  that  have  provoked  the  Lord 
to  bring  his  judgments  on  New  England."  The  celebrated  Mather  men- 
tions the  evils  which  fell  upon  New  England  colonies  at  that  time.  He 
says : 

"  By  land  some  of  the  principal  grains,  especially  our  wheat  &  our  peas,  fell  under 
an  unaccountable  blast,  for  which  we  are  not  even  unto  this  day  delivered  ;  &  besides 
that  constant  frown  of  Heaven  upon  our  husbandry,  recurring  every  year,  few  years  have 
passed  wherein  either  worms  or  droughts,  or  some  consuming  disasters,  have  not  befallen 
the  labors  of  the  husbandmen.  By  sea,  we  are  visited  with  multitudes  of  shipwrecks, 
enemies  preyed  on  our  vessels  and  sailors,  and  the  affairs  of  the  merchants  were  clogged 
with  losses  abroad,  or  fires  breaking  forth  in  the  chief  seats  of  trade  at  home,  wasted 
their  substance  with  yet  more  costly  desolations."* 

Owing  to  these  calamities,  upon  recommendation  of  the  commissioners 
of  the  united  colonies  in  1678,  the  General  Court  ordered  that  all  the 
churches  throughout  New  England  should  unite  in  humble  prayer  and 
supplication,  that  the  Almighty  would  remove  his  anger  from  them.  "  The 
Synod  convened  at  Boston  Sept.  10.  1679  choosing  Mr.  John  Shermon  and 
Mr.  Urian  Oakes  for  joint  moderators,  during  the  biggest  part  of  the  sea- 
son." "  The  Assembly  kept  a  day  of  fasting  &  prayer,"  after  which 

*Magnalia,  Vol.  II.,  B.  V.,  p.  4. 


1679]  AN   INTERESTING   DECADE  2OQ 

several  days  were  spent  in  discussing  the  two  questions  which  were  offered 
for  consideration,  viz. : 

"  What  are  the  provoking  evils  of  New  England?  &  what  is  to  be  done  that 
so  those  provoking  evils  may  be  reformed?  " 

Thirteen  evils  were  enumerated  in  reply  to  the  first  question.  Answers 
were  made  to  these  questions,  setting  forth  the  way  by  which  the  provok- 
ing evils  of  the  times  might  be  overcome.  Ministers  were  emboldened  to 
preach  against  the  sins  of  the  people.  "  But  of  all  the  effects  that  followed 
upon  the  synod,  there  was  none  more  comprehensive  &  significant  than 
the  renewal  of  tJie  covenant."  The  renewal  of  the  covenant  varied  only  in 
words  in  different  churches,  but  the  substance  was  in  all  points  essentially 
the  same.* 

On  account  of  many  persons  sojourning  in  some  of  the  towns  in  the 
colony,  who  not  only  voted  illegally  but  intermeddled  with  the  laws  of  the 
towns  and  colony,  a  law  was  passed,  "  that  none  be  admitted  an  inhabi- 
tant, or  householder  but  a  man  of  sober  conversation,  with  at  least  fifty 
shillings  freehold  estate  in  the  common  list  besides  his  person,  should  vote 
in  the  choice  of  town  or  county  affairs,  provided  he  had  not  been  made  a 
freeman,  under  a  penalty  of  2OS.  fine." 

At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  John  Banks  was 
appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  settle  the  boundary  line  between  Milford 
and  Derby.  A  general  thanksgiving  was  appointed  for  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  November  throughout  the  colony.  Special  thanks  were  requested 
to  be  offered  for  the  deliverance  of  the  king  and  his  people  from  the 
Popish  plot  ;  as  well  as  their  own  "  preservation,  notwithstanding  the  plots 
&  machinations  of  evil  minded  men."  One  of  the  chief  causes  for  dis- 
quietude at  this  time  was,  that  if  Andros  succeeded  in  becoming  governor 
of  New  England,  he  would  make  the  Church  of  England  the  established 
church  of  the  colonies.  Great  fears  were  also  entertained  that  the  Roman 
Catholics  would  gain  strong  foothold  in  New  York. 

On  the  25th  of  October  the  Sasco  Indians  agreed  to  make  an  exchange 
of  their  lands  in  the  Sasco  fields  for  other  lands  belonging  to  the  town. 

*  Mather's  Magnalia,  Vol.  II  .  B.  V.,  p.  283. 
14 


CHAPTER   V 

1680 — 1690 

THE    DECADE   OF    THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION 

Claim  of  John  Wampus. — First  prison  on  Meeting-house  green. — Magistrates  of  1680. — Trade 
and  Navigation. — Indian  troubles. — Fairfield  troops. — Bedford. — Edward  Randolph,  deputy 
for  New  England. — Henry  Wakelcy. — Branding. — Ship  building. — Purchase  of  Old  Indian 
Field. — Court  of  admiralty. — Fairfield  estates. — Meeting-house  repairs. — Military  colors. — 
Blight  of  crops,  and  great  sickness. — Sign  post. — Non-residents. — Pirates. — Silver  coins. — 
Connecticut  boundary-line. — Major  Gold  sent  to  New  York. — Danbury. — Death  of  Charles 
II. — James  II.  proclaimed  King. — Fairfield  patent. — Royal  letters. — Writs  of  Quo  War- 
ranto. — Edward  Randolph. — Highway  across  Golden-hill. — Petition  to  the  King. — Governor 
Dongan. — Sir  Edmund  Andros. — Boundary  between  Fairfield  and  Norwalk. — Nathan  Gold, 
Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  disfranchised. — William  Whiting. — Danbury  made  a  town. — 
Governor  Andros  assumes  command  of  Connecticut. — The  Charter  Oak. — Governor  Andros' 
Council. — John  Perry,  postman. — French  and  Indians. — Major  Gold  and  Jehu  Burr  reinstated. 
— Oppressive  laws  of  Andros. — Andros'  proclamation. — Rev.  Increase  Mather. — Abdication 
of  James  II. — William  and  Mary. — Andros  imprisoned. — Connecticut  magistrates  restored  to 
office. — William  and  Mary  proclaimed  in  New  England  towns. — Address  to  the  King  and 
Queen. — Major  Gold  ambassador  to  New  York. — Connecticut  troops  sent  to  New  York. — 
French  and  Indian  depredations. — Rev.  Increase  Mather's  success  in  England. — Preparation 
for  war  with  the  Canadians  and  Indians. 

THE  laborious  and  valuable  services  rendered  by  Fairfield  during  Philip's 
war,  added  greatly  to  the  luster  of  her  fame.  Nobly  had  her  sons  borne 
a  heavy  share  of  the  hardships  and  sacrifices  of  this  war  ;  and  by  their 
spirit  and  bravery  deservingly  won  the  name  of  heroes.  Never  did  women 
deserve  greater  praise  than  the  mothers  and  daughters  of  Fairfield,  for 
their  constant  industry  and  helpfulness  in  sustaining  the  life  of  the  colo- 
nies at  this  critical  time. 

Scarcely,  however,  had  peace  settled  over  her  borders  than  a  fresh  dis- 
quietude arose.  The  planters  had  for  some  time  believed  themselves,  or 
claimed  to  be,  the  lawful  possessors  of  the  last  six  miles  square  of  lands 
purchased  of  the  Aspetuck  Indians  in  1670;  but  their  claim  was  now  dis- 
puted by  John  Wampus,  alias  White,  by  virtue  of  his  marriage  to  Prasque, 
the  daughter  of  Romanock,  chief  sachem  of  the  Aspetuck  and  Sasquan- 
nock  Indians.  Romanock  had  died  during  the  latter  part  of  the  previous 
decade,  and  Wampus'  claim  was  based  upon  a  deed  of  Aspetuck  given  to 
Prasque  by  her  father,  dated  September  n,  1660.  Revisited  the  chief 
magistrates  of  Fairfield,  and  before  them  asserted  his  claim  to  be  a  just 
and  lawful  one.  So  persistently  did  he  push  the  matter,  and  demand  that 


i68o]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  211 

his  lands  should  be  bounded  out  to  him,  that  he  incurred  the  displeasure 
of  the  magistrates,  who  ordered  his  imprisonment.  He  then  employed 
Richard  Thayer,  a  lawyer  of  Milford,  not  only  to  apply  to  the  General 
Assembly,  but  also  to  address  a  letter  to  the  Lords  of  the  Kind's  Council, 
to  which  he  received  the  following  reply : 

"  From  the  Lords  of  the  Council  to  the  Governor  and  Magistrate  : 

After  our  hearty  commendations.  Whereas  John  Wampus,  alias  \\'hitfs,  has,  by 
petitions  humbly  represented  unto  his  Majesty,  that  he  is,  by  marriage  of  Anna,  the 
daughter  of  Romanock,  late  sachem  of  Aspetuck  &  Sasquanaugh,  upon  the  death  of  said 
sachem,  become  sole  proprietor  of  those  tracts  of  land  where  the  town  of  Fairtield,  in  the 
colony  of  Connecticut,  is  built  ;  that  the  petitioner's  said  father-in-law  did,  about  nineteen 
years  since,  deliver  up  the  possession  of  the  said  land  to  the  petitioner,  who  sometime 
after  sold  part  thereof  to  Capt.  Denison,  Amos  Richardson  £  others  of  Connecticut  Col- 
ony, for  the  sum  of  three  hundred  &  fifty  pounds,  or  thereabouts  ;  &  that  by  the  evil 
practices  of  Major  Nathan  Gould,  &  other  inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  lie  is  not  only  kept  out 
of  his  just  rights,  but  was  also  imprisoned  by  them  in  May  last,  when  he  went  to  demand 
possession  of  his  estate  ;  withall  complaining  of  the  great  hardships  &  miseries  he  &  other 
native  Indians  are  subject  unto  by  the  laws  of  that  colony.  His  Majesty  taking  into  con- 
sideration the  miserable  condition  of  the  petitioner,  &  declaring  his  royal  pleasure  that 
not  only  the  petitioner,  but  all  such  Indians  of  New  England  as  are  his  subjects,  &  sub- 
mit peaceably  &  quietly  to  his  Majesty's  government,  shall  likewise  participate  of  his  royal 
protection,  we  do  by  his  Majesty's  express  commands  signify  the  same  unto  you,  requir- 
ing you  to  do  the  petitioner  such  justice  as  his  case  may  deserve  ;  &  for  the  future  to 
proceed  in  such  manner  as  his  Majesty's  subjects  may  not  be  forced  to  undertake  so  long 
&  dangerous  voiages  for  obtaining  justice,  which  his  Majesty  expects  shall  be  speedily  <i 
impartially  administered  unto  them  upon  the  place.  And  so  not  doubting  of  your  ready 
compliance  herein,  we  bid  you  heartily  farewell.  From  the  Council  Chamber  in  White- 
hall, the  28th  day  of  March,  1679. 

Your  loving  friends, 

Anglesley,  Clarendon, 

Ailesbury,  J.  Brickenwau-r. 

Falconberg,  J.  Erule, 

John  Nichols. 

To  our  Loving  Friends,  the  Governor  &   Magistrate  of  his  Majesty's  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut, in  New  England. 
Rec'cl  May  17,  1680."* 

Meanwhile,  the  authorities  of  the  town  had  strictly  forbidden  Wampus 
to  draw  division  lines  within  the  township,  and  proceeded  to  obtain,  if 
possible,  a  general  deed  from  all  the  Indian  sachems  of  whom  they  had 
purchased  lands.  At  a  town  meeting  in  February,  it  was  voted  that  a  small 
piece  of  land  on  the  green  should  be  granted  to  build  a  prison,  with  a 
dwelling-house  thereon,  also  a  garden  plot  and  yard  plot 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III..  281. 


212  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1680 

During  the  spring  the  people  of  Mill-plain  expressing  dissatisfaction  on 
account  of  some  of  the  planters  having  so  far  encroached  upon  the  high- 
way that  it  was  lost,  Jehu  Burr  and  Samuel  Morehouse  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  settle  the  boundaries  of  the  trespassers,  and  to  lay  out  the 
highway  to  a  place  called  Applegate's  Landing.  At  the  May  election 
Major  Gold  was  re-elected  an  assistant  ;  John  Banks  and  Jehu  Burr 
deputies;  and  Jehu  and  John  Burr  commissioners.  John  Banks  was  made 
one  of  a  committee  to  audit  the  colonial  treasurer's  account.  He  was 
also  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  examine  the  plantation  of  Wood- 
bury,  and  to  settle  the  division  lines  between  Woodbury,  Derby  and 
Waterbury.  Jehu  Burr  was  made  one  of  a  committee  with  Major  Treat, 
John  Talcott,  and  the  Rev.  James  Fitch,  to  hear  and  settle  all  quarrels 
between  the  English  and  Indians,  and  all  Indian  quarrels.  He  was  also 
appointed  with  Mr.  William  Fowler,  of  Stratford,  to  settle  the  bounds  of 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  upon  Corum  hill  to  Ackenach,  sachem  of  Mil- 
ford  and  Derby. 

The  acts  of  trade  and  navigation  had  for  many  years  become  so  offen- 
sive to  the  colonists,  and  so  contrary  to  their  chartered  liberties,  that  they 
were  openly  opposed  by  many  ;  but,  as  the  king  had  ordered  that  the 
governor  in  each  colony  should  take  the  oath  of  trade  and  navigation,  it 
was  administered  to  Governor  Leete  in  the  presence  of  this  assembly.* 

A  series  of  twenty-seven  questions  from  a  committee  of  the  king's 
privy  council  was  also  read,  and  an  answer  voted  to  be  returned  by  the 
governor,  and  as  many  of  the  assistants  and  council  as  could  be  present, 
to  draw  up  suitable  answers.  A  synopsis  of  the  replies  to  these  questions 
gives  a  very  interesting  idea  of  many  things  bearing  upon  the  history  of 
the  town  of  Fairfield,  and  is  as  follows : 

I.  Answer.     We  have  two  annual  General  Courts,  according'  to  his  Majestie's  charter. 

(2)  We  have  two  Courts  of  Assistants,  consisting  of  the  governor  &  six  assistants,  with 
a  jury,  for  the  trial  of  capital  offences,  &  for  appeals. 

(3)  The  colony  is  divided  into  four  counties,  each  county  holding  two  courts  annually, 
consisting  of  magistrates  with  a  jury,  for  actions  of  debts,  slander,  &  criminal   matters  of 
less  importance. 

(4)  In  special  matters  the  Governor  with  his  assistants,  holds  extra  courts  between  the 
two  annual  sessions  of  the  General  Court. 

*  By  the  king's  proclamation  of  November  24,  1675,  all  other  but  English  vessels  were  pro- 
hibited from  importing  to  the  colonies  commodities  from  Europe  not  laden  in  England.  The 
governor  of  each  colony  was  required  to  make  returns  of  all  vessels  laden  with  plantation  com- 
modities in  his  colony,  and  all  bonds  taken  by  him.  On  the  igth  of  May,  1680,  William  Brath- 
wayt,  Esq.,  was  granted  a  commission  by  the  king,  as  surveyor  and  auditor  general  of  all  revenues 
arising  in  America,  with  power  to  appoint  deputies  and  under  officers. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  I.,  307. 


i68o]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION*  213 

2.  Answ.  Having  but  little  traffic  abroad,  the  Court  of  Assistants  decide  cases  need- 
ing attention. 

3  Answ.  The  Legislative  power  rests  in  the  General  Court.  &  the  execution  in  the 
regular  appointed  courts. 

4.  Answ.     Having  sent  you  one  of  the  new  law  books,  particular  attention  is  directed 
to  the  fact,  that  we  had   been  careful  not  to  make  any  laws  repugnant  to  the  statute  laws 
of  England. 

5.  Answ.     The  troops  of  the  colony  consists  of  but  one  regular  body  ;  but  three  more 
companies  could   be  raised  consisting  of  forty  horse  each.     The  other  forces  are  train 
bands.     One  Major  in  each  county  commands  the   militia  of  the  county,  subject  to  the 
orders  of  the  governor ;  the  latter  being  the  general  of  all  the  forces  in  the  colony.     The 
number  of  the  whole  body  of  trained  soldiers  is  2507 — Hartford  county  835.     New  Haven 
county  623.     New  London  county  509.     Fairfield  county  540. 

The  arms  of  troopers  are  pistols  &  carbines,  &  of  foot  soldiers,  muskets  &  pikes.  In 
the  late  war  with  the  Indians,  dragoons  proving  most  useful,  about  300  were  employed  in 
the  service  with  good  success. 

6  Answ.     We  have  one  small  fort  in  the  colony  not  over  strong,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Connecticut  river,  called  Saybrooke,  easily  supplied  with  provisions  from  the  towns  about 
it.     There  are  other  good  harbors,  specially  one  at  New  London   needing   fortifications  & 
artillery. 

7  Answ.     Few  privateers  or  pirates  venture  to  enter  the  harbors  of  our  dangerous 
coasts. 

8  Answ.     We  have  about  500  fighting  Indians.     We  are  strangers  to  the  French,  & 
have  no  knowledge  of  their  commerce. 

Our  chief  trade  is  with  Boston,  where  clothing  is  purchased  &  paid  for  with  what  pro- 
visions we  raise. 

The  trade  with  the  Indians  since  the  war  is  worth  nothing. 

9  Answ.     We  have  neighborly  correspondence  with  Plymouth  ;  indifferent  with  Massa- 
chusetts ;  but  none  of  good  account  with  Rhode  Island.     On  account  of  the  "demands  ht 
makes  upon  our  limits,  &  ///  titles  he  lays  upon  us,"  our  correspondence-  with  Sir  Edmond 
Andros  is  not  what  it  was  with  his  predecessors. 

10  Answ.     "  Our  boundaries  are  expressed  in  our  charter.     The  number  of  acres  of 
settled  or  unsettled  lands  we  cannot  guess,  the  country  being   mountainous,  full  of  rocks, 
swamps,  hills  &  vales.     Most  of  that  fit  for  planting  is  taken  up.     What  remains  must  be 
subdued,  £  gained  out  of  fire,  as  it  were,  by  hard  blows,  &  and  for  small  recompense." 

II.  Answ.  "Our  principal  towns  are  Hartford  upon  the  Connecticut  river;  New 
London  upon  the  Pequot  river  ;  New  Haven  &  Fairfield  by  the  sea  side  :  in  which  towns 
is  managed  the  principal  trade  of  the  colony.  Our  buildings  are  generally  of  wood  ; 
some  of  them  are  of  stone  &  brick  ;  many  of  them  of  good  strength  &  comlynesse  for  a 
wilderness  ;  both  those  of  wood,  stone  &  brick  :  [many  forty  feet  long  &  twenty  foot  broad 
&  some  larger]  ;  three  &  four  stories  high."* 

12  Answ.     There  are  twenty-six  settled  towns  in  the  colony. 

13  Answ.     Between  the  Narragansett  river  on  the  east  bounds,  &  the  Mamaroneck 
rivulet  on  the  west,  are  the  following  rivers. 

(i)  The  Connecticut,  with  ten  or  twelve  feet  of  water  at  its  entrance. 

*  "Crossed*Out." 


214  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1680 

&  80  tons  go  six  miles  up  the  river  to  Hartford  :  but  by  reason  of  flats  &  falls  cannot 
go  more  than  six  miles  above  Hartford. 

(2)  The  New  London  or  Pequot  river  permits  ships  of  500  tons  to  go  up  to  the  town. 
Vessels  of  thirty  tons  go  above  New  London  to  Norwich. 

(3)  At  New  Haven  &  Fairfield,  vessels  of  300  tons  or  larger  can  enter  their  harbors. 

(4)  Vessels  of  30  or  40  tons  enter  the   rivers  of  Guilford,  Milford,  Norwalk,  Stratford, 
Stamford  &  Rye. — all  these  rivers  having  good  tide  harbors. 

14  Answ.  "The  commodities  of  the  country  are  wheat,  rye,  barley,  Indian  corn, 
pork,  beef,  wool,  hemp,  flax,  cider,  perry,  tar,  deal-boards,  pipe-staves,  &  horses;"  but  to 
say  the  yearly  value  of  what  is  exported,  or  spent  upon  the  place,  we  cannot.  Small 
quantities  of  exports  sent  to  Jamaica  £  other  Carribian  Islands,  &  bartered  for  sugar,  cot- 
ton, wool  &  rum,  &  some  money;  rarely  a  vessel  laden  with  staves,  peas,  pork,  flour  for 
Maderia  &  Fayall,  &  bartered  for  wine.  No  need  of  trade  with  Virginia,  on  account  of 
raising  as  much  tobacco  in  the  colony  as  the  planters  need.  Great  loss  has  been  sustained 
by  blasting  of  the  wheat  &  peas  by  worms  &  mildew,  seriously  affecting  trade. 

(2)  Good  oak  timber,  pine  &  spruce  is  used  for  masts;  oak  &   pine  boards,  tar,  pitch 
&  hemp  for  vessels. 

(3)  Possibly  8  or  9000  pounds  of  commodities  imported  annually. 

15.  Answ.     No   salt-peter   raised  in   the  colony,  nor  have  we  any  knowledge  of  the 
right  materials  for  raising  it. 

1 6.  Answ.     About  twenty  petty  merchants  trading  on  the  coast  from  New  Foundland 
to  New  York.     Few  foreign  merchants  ever  come  to  trade  with  us. 

Men  from  16  to  60  form  our  train  bands. 

There  are  but  few  servants  among  us,  &  less  slaves,  not  more  than  thirty  in  the  colony. 

17.  Answ.     So  few  English,  Scotch  &  Irish  come  into  the  colony,  that  it  would  be  hard 
to  give  an  account  of  them.     Some   years   none  ;  sometimes  a  family  or  two  in  a  year  ; 
three  or  four  blacks  perhaps  in  a  year  from  Barbadoes,  which  are  usually  sold  at  22_£. 
apiece,  according  to  an  agreement  made  with   the  masters  of  vessels  or  merchants  that 
bring  them. 

1 8.  Answ.     No  definite  account  of  whites  or  blacks  born  in  the  colony  to  be  obtained  ; 
but  few  blacks,  &  but  two  blacks  christened  that  we  know  of. 

19.  Answ.     We  can  give  no  perfect  account  of  the  marriages  for  the  last  seven  years. 

20.  Answ.     We  can  give  no  account  of  the  deaths  within  seven  years,  but  as   to  the 
increase  of  the  population,  it  is  about  as  follows  : 

In  the  year  71  our  number  of  men  were  2050 

76  "         "  "         "     2303 

77  "         "  "         "     2365 

78  "         "  "         "     2490 

79  "         "  -         ••     2507 

21.  Answ.     The  estates  of  merchants,  we  make  no  guess  of :  but  the  estates  of  the 
corporation  in  general  amount  to  110788  Ibs. 

22.  Answ.     Very  seldom  other  vessels  than  those  from  Boston  or  New  York  come  to 
trade  with  us.     The  number  of  our  vessels  amount  to  4  ships,  &    24  pincks,  ketches,  & 
barks  ;  the  combined  weight  of  which    amounts  to  about  1000  tons. 

23.  Answ.     The  obstructions  we  find  to    trade  &  navigation,   are,  want    of   men  of 
estates  to  venture  ;  of  money  at  home  for  managing  trade,  £  the  high  rates  of  labor. 

24.  Answ.     If  Hartford,  New  London,  New  Haven   £  Fairfield  could  be  made  free 


i68oj  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  21$ 

ports  for  20  or  15  years,  it  would  be  the  means  of  increasing  navigation  &  the  wealth 
&  trade  of  the  colony. 

25.  Answ.     No  duties  are  taken  by  us  either  in   export  or  imports,  except  in  wine  & 
liquor,  which  is  small,  &  used  towards  the  maintenance  of  free  schools. 

26.  Answ.     Our   people  are  generally  strict  Congregationalists,  others  more    liberal 
Congregationalists,  &  some  moderate  Presbyterians.     There  are  also  about  4  or  5  Seven- 
day  men,  &  so  many  Quakers. 

27.  Answ.     Great  care  is  taken  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  Christian  religion  by  min- 
isters  catechising  them  &  preaching  to  them   twice  every  Sabbath  day,  and  on  Lecture 
days  ;  and  by  masters  of  families  according  to  our  laws,  instructing  &  catechising  their 
children  &  servants. 

(2)  In  our  26  towns  we  have  one  &  twenty  churches. 

(3)  In  every  settled  town  in  the  colony  there  is  a  settled  minister,  except  in  two  towns 
lately  begun,  who  are  seeking  for  ministers. 

(4)  The  ministers  are  supported    by  taxes,  at  the  rate  in   some  places  of  100  Ib  per 
annum,  some  90  11),  some  60  Ib  ;  but  in  no  place  less  than  50  Ib. 

(5)  Every  town  provides  for  its  own  poor  &  impotent  people.     Seldom  any  want  relief, 
labor  being  clear,  viz  :   2s.  &  sometimes  2s.,  6cl.  for  a  day  laborer.     Provision  is  cheap  viz  : 
wheat  4s.  a  bushel, Winchester  measure,  peas  3s;    Indian  corn  2s.,  6d  ;  pork  3d.,  pr.  Ib.  beef 
2id  pr.  Ib  ;   butter  6d.  pr.  Ib. 

Beggars  &  vagabonds  are  not  suffered  ;  but  as  soon  as  discovered  bound  out  to  service.* 

More  particular  instructions  were  sent  with  the  king's  letter  of  May 
24,  "  for  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  relating  to  the  trade  &  navigation 
of  the  colonies.  With  these  letters  came  also  inclosed  copies  of  the  acts,  a 
book  of  rates,  &  copies  of  the  proclamation  of  1675,  v.hich  prohibited 
the  importation  to  the  colonies  of  any  commodities  of  Europe  not  laden 
in  England,  blank  bonds  of  returns,  &c.,  impressions  of  the  several  cus- 
tomers or  patent  collectors  &  comptrollers,  both  in  the  port  of  London 
&  the  outer  ports."  Fairfield,  and  all  the  neighboring  towns  west  of 
New  Haven,  had  cause  at  this  time  for  serious  apprehensions  in  regard  to 
their  Indians.  Since  Philip's  war,  the  Mohawks  had  attacked  and  killed 
many  of  the  friendly  Indians  within  the  limits  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  it 
was  now  rumored  that  "  all  the  Western  Indians  beyond  New  Haven, 
were  joined  with  the  Mohawks  in  plotting  against  the  English." 

Whether  it  was  on  account  of  this  rumor,  or,  as  was  most  probable,  to 
be  prepared  to  resist  the  ambitious  schemes  of  Randolph  and  Andros,  or 
the  encroachments  of  Massachusetts  on  their  eastern  boundaries,  the 
General  Assembly  took  occasion  to  place  their  troops  and  militia  in  fight- 
ing order.  They  declared,  that  hereafter,  "  if  any  attempt  should  be  made 
in  a  forcible  or  hostile  manner  upon  his  Majesty's  colony,  or  any  part 
thereof,  within  the  bounds  granted  by  his  Majesty's  charter,  cither  by 

*  These  Answers  are  dated  Hanford,  July  15,  1680. — Col.  Rcc    of  Conn.,  III..  2<)2-3OO. 


2l6  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1680 

natives  or  any  others,  upon  any  pretense  whatsoever,"  the  sergeant-major 
and  the  military  officers  in  the  several  counties  and  plantations  of  the 
colony,  after  first  demanding  a  surrender  and  being  refused,  should  seize 
and  bring  such  offenders  to  justice,  or  by  force  resist  and  repel  such 
enemies.  All  civil  and  military  troops  and  train-bands  of  each  town  were 
required  to  aid  and  assist  in  quelling  such  invasions.  Three  shillings  fine 
was  levied  upon  any  refusing  or  neglecting  training  duties.  All  disorderly 
firing  after  training  days  was  prohibited,  after  the  shutting  in  of  the  even- 
ing, by  a  fine  of  five  shillings.  Each  plantation  was  recommended  to 
procure  one  or  two  great  pieces  of  artillery.  Supplies  of  ammunition  were 
ordered  to  be  procured  with  all  speed.  All  commissions  already  granted 
to  military  officers  were  to  remain  in  force  until  other  orders  were  issued. 
An  oath  was  prepared  and  exacted  from  every  commissioned  officer,  that 
he  should  faithfully  discharge  his  duty  according  to  the  laws  of  the  General 
Court,  Governor  and  Council  of  Connecticut,  made  and  established  in  their 
behalf. 

The    third  Wednesday   in   June  was   appointed    a  day   of    fasting  and 
humiliation  to  secure  the  smile  of  God's  mercy  upon  the  colony. 

The  magistrates  of  Fairfield  lost  no  time  in  preparing  for  the  approach- 
ing crisis  in  their  affairs.  To  secure  their  lands  and  make  good  their  pur- 
chase of  them  from  the  Indians,  was  now  an  all-important  step  to  be 
taken.  The  next  was  to  have  no  undivided  lands  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  township,  which  would  give  a  foothold  to  Andros  or  any  other 
claimant.  Accordingly  the  Indian  sachems  of  Fairfield,  or  their  descend- 
ants, of  whom  the  English  had  purchased  the  several  parcels  of  lands 
from  time  to  time,  were  assembled  on  the  sixth  of  October  before  the 
.magistrates  of  the  town,  to  sign  and  witness  a  new  deed  of  the  sale  of 
their  lands  to  the  planters.  By  this  deed  all  the  lands  within  the  deed  of 
March  20,  1656,  March  21,  1661,  and  January  19,  1670,  were  included. 
The  Indians  reserved  their  Sasco,  Pequonnock,  Uncowa,  Old  Indian  Field, 
Wolves  Pit  Plain  and  Aspetuck  reservations.  They  acknowledged  that 
they  had  lawfully  sold  their  lands  to  the  English  ;  that  they  had  previ- 
ously received  full  recompense  for  them,  and  agreed  to  make  no  further 
demands.  This  deed  bears  the  names  of  the  principal  sachems  of  the 
town,  and  those  of  Norwalk  who  claimed  an  interest  in  the  lands  east  of 
the  Saugatuck  River.*  Having  completed  this  amicable  settlement  with 
the  Indians,  the  town  committee  proceeded  without  delay  to  bound  and 
stake  out. the  long  lots,  highways,  etc.,  for  a  final  dividend  of  all  undivided 
lands.  At -the  October  term  of  the  General  Assembly,  John  Banks  was 

*  See  Appendix. 


i68i]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  217 

made  one  of  a  committee  to  examine  the  lands  north  of  Stamford,  with  a 
view  of  forming  a  new  plantation,  and  to  make  a  report  of  the  same  to 
the  next  Assembly.  This  was  afterwards  called  Bedford.  He  was  also 
appointed  one  on  a  committee  to  audit  the  colony  and  Hartford  county- 
accounts. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  grievances  which  filled  the  hearts  of  the 
planters  with  fear  and  trembling  for  their  liberties  and  prosperity,  the 
third  Wednesday  in  November  was  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanks- 
giving, for  the  mercies  still  continued  to  them.  At  a  town  meeting  held 
on  the  2 1st  of  December,  an  article  of  agreement  was  drawn  in  behalf  of 
the  town  by  John  Burr,  Lieutenant  John  Banks,  Sergeant  George  Squire, 
John  Wheeler  and  William  Hill,  to  make  over  by  a  formal  deed  the  old 
mill  site  on  Mill  river,  to  Richard  Ogdcn  ;  he  agreeing  to  maintain  a 
sufficient  corn-mill  on  said  stream  forever.* 

On  the  1 5th  of  October,  Sir  Edward  Randolph  was  appointed  by 
William  Braithwait,  deputy  for  New  England.  This  step  added  to  the 
former  fears  of  the  colonists,  but  Governor  Leete  addressed  a  letter  to  the 
king's  commissioners  of  custom  at  London  on  the  24th  of  January,  in 
which  he  gives  assurances  of  the  fidelity  of  the  Connecticut  planters,  and 
promises  "to  grant  Mr.  Randolph  such  necessary  aid  &  assistance  as 
might  be  requisite."  He  closed  his  letter  by  saying:  "If  any  Lords  of 
the  Privy  Council  or  Treasury  will  concern  themselves  to  father  our  light, 
in  this  or  anything  proper  to  our  loyalty,  we  shall  thankfully  accept  the 
same,  and  do  our  duty  therein."  At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  made 
an  assistant  of  the  General  Assembly,  John  Wheeler  and  Richard  Hubbel, 
deputies,  and  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Burr,  commissioners.  For  services 
rendered  the  colony  in  and  about  Middlctovvn,  and  for  injuries  received, 
Henry  Wakeley  of  Pequonnock,  was  granted  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
which  was  laid  out  to  his  heirs  some  years  afterwards,  west  of  Newt  own, 
between  Fairfield  and  Danbury. 

The  law  prohibiting  the  importation  of  deer  skins,  so  largely  used  for 
clothing,  was  repealed,  with  the  proviso,  that  if  any  one  within  a  month 
before  transportation,  gave  notice  at  a  town  meeting,  or  by  a  writing 
fastened  upon  the  tavern  or  mill  door,  and  should  find  a  purchaser  for  his 
skins  in  the  town  or  colony,  at  six  pence  per  pound,  in  wheat  or  money, 
he  should  not  send  the  skins  out  of  the  colony,  under  a  forfeiture  of  the 
full  value  of  as  many  skins  shipped  as  the  purchaser  desired. 

The  restraint  laid  upon  grain  by  the  governor  and  council  during 
Philip's  war,  was  also  removed.  Seven  years  were  allowed  for  collecting 

*B,  Town  Votes,  Dec.  21,  1680. 


2l8  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1681 

debts.  Besides  two  pence  allowed  by  law  on  the  shilling  to  the  collector 
of  taxes,  he  was  also  allowed  four  pence  for  every  mile  traveled,  and 
necessary  ferryage,  in  case  of  levying  for  non-payment.  On  account  of  a 
great  abuse  in  the  colony  in  branding  horses,  private  persons  were  for- 
bidden to  brand  them.  Each  owner  was  required  to  take  his  horse  to  the 
regularly  appointed  brander  of  the  town  in  which  he  lived,  under  a 
penalty  of  40^.  No  bargain  or  sale  of  any  horse  was  made  binding,  unless 
recorded  in  the  town  Brand  Book,  where  he  was  sold.* 

It  was  also  ordered  that  "  if  any  person  should  take  up,  or  brand  or 
mark  any  horse  contrary  to  this  order,  he  shall  pay  for  the  first  offense  five 
pounds  to  the  treasury,  or  be  whipt  ten  lashes  on  the  naked  body  ;  for 
the  second  offense  he  shall  pay  ten  pounds  or  be  whipped  twenty  lashes  ; 
for  the  third  offense  he  shall  be  committed  to  the  house  of  correction,  & 
there  be  kept  at  hard  labor  &  with  coarse  diet  for  six  months,  &  be 
whipped  once  a  quarter  severely,  or  pay  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds."  All 
stray  horses  not  branded,  over  two  years  old,  were  to  be  sent  to  the  con- 
stable, who  was  to  cry  them  for  three  days  in  the  three  next  towns  ;  and 
if  no  owner  appeared  by  the  end  of  three  weeks,  he,  with  the  advice 
of  the  nearest  assistant  or  commissioner,  was  to  sell  them,  or  mark  them 
for  the  use  of  the  county,  f 

That  commerce  might  be  facilitated,  encouragement  was  given  by  the 
Assembly  to  ship-builders;  and  that  none  but  good  ships  might  be  built, 
a  law  was  passed,  "  that  before  vessels  of  over  fifteen  tons  were  planked, 
the  owner  or  builder  should  repair  to  the  nearest  magistrate  or  commis- 
sioner, who  should  appoint  one  or  more  capable  persons  to  examine  the 
work  &  workmen,  as  was  usual  in  England,  under  a  penalty  of  ten 
pounds."  Black  Rock  became  for  many  years  a  resort  for  ship-builders, 
and  vessels  of  considerable  size  were  built  and  launched  from  its  ship- 
yards. Smaller  vessels  were  built  at  Southport,  at  Palmer's  ship-yard. 

On  the  i8th  of  May,  the  Indians  gave  a  quit  claim  deed  of  the  Old 
Indian  Field  to  the  townsmen  of  Fairfield.  On  the  25th  of  July,  Richard 
Thayre  addressed  a  letter  to  Governor  Leete,  in  which  he  stated  that  he 
was  employed  by  the  executors  of  John  Wampus,  to  make  inquisition 
after  the  estate  which  his  father,  Romanoak,  gave  him ;  that  he  had 
applied  to  William  Hill,  the  town  recorder,  for  information  in  regard  to 
the  claim  of  Wampus,  "  who  stated  that  he  had  the  evidences  in  his  cus- 
tody, but  would  not  deliver  them  or  copies  of  them,  without  the  advice  of 
Major  Gold  ;  "  that  on  the  22d  of  July  he  had  summoned  the  recorder  to 
give  his  evidence  before  the  magistrates  of  the  town,  which  he  had  refused 
*  Letter  B,  of  Fairfield  Town  Votes.  f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  79. 


1682]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  2 19 

to  do.  Finally  he  demanded  an  order  from  the  governor  to  be  allowed  to 
measure  the  lands  Wampus  claimed.  On  the  same  day  the  governor  and 
assistants  replied,  that  they  were  willing  to  allow  all  lawful  acts  in  this  as 
in  other  cases,  "  but  to  suffer  strangers  to  draw  lines  within  townships, 
without  order  or  consent  of  the  town,  we  think  not  safe  to  encourage."  * 
This  appears  to  have  ended  all  claims  which  Wampus  or  White  laid  to 
the  Aspetuck  lands.  At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Assembly, 
the  county  rates  were  reduced  to  two  cents  on  the  pound,  but  if  any  per- 
son paid  his  full  rate  in  money,  one-third  of  his  tax  was  abated. 

Fully  resolved  to  resist  all  claims  and  demands  made  on  the  colony, 
save  under  the  laws  of  the  General  Assembly,  an  order  was  issued,  "  that 
no  Brief  craving  the  collection  of  the  good  people  in  this  colony,  shall  be 
read  or  attended  to  in  any  plantation,  without  the  sanction  of  the  governor 
&  his  council ;  &  by  their  direction  into  what  towns  &  congregations  it 
shall  pass,  except  for  some  special  occasion,  for  some  distressed  or  afflicted 
person."  The  court  of  assistants  for  the  future  was  made  a  court  of 
admiralty.  "  In  the  months  of  June,  July  &  August  a  drought  prevailed 
throughout  the  country,  which  caused  great  loss  of  corn  &  grass,  valued  at 
many  thousand  pounds."  There  was  a  great  deal  of  sickness  from  a 
malignant  fever,  "of  which  many  died."  In  December,  a  list  of  the  num- 
ber of  acres,  and  the  value  of  the  estates  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  Fair- 
field  was  recorded.  A  second  list  was  recorded  on  the  3Oth  of  December 
following  of  the  building  lots,  pasture  lots  and  long  lots,  granted  to  the 
inhabitants  in  1670.  This  list  is  invaluable  in  its  exactness  of  the  number 
of  acres,  rods,  quarter  acres  and  feet ;  as  well  as  the  width  of  the  long  lots 
belonging  to  each  land  dividend  holder,  f 

A  vote  was  passed  on  the  3Oth  of  December,  that  Paul's  Neck  should 
be  laid  out  with  sufficient  highways  about  it. 

The  Indians  having  removed  from  the  Old  Indian  Field,  and  transferred 
their  right  to  the  planters  of  Fairfield,  on  the  loth  of  March  it  was  voted,  at 
a  town  meeting,  to  divide  the  said  field  among  the  lawful  land  dividend 
holders.  John  Wheeler  and  Samuel  Morehouse  were  appointed  to  survey 
and  lay  out  each  planter's  proportion.  At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the 
25th  of  April,  Josiah  Harvey  was  granted  "  a  parcell  of  land  in  pay  for 
thirty-eight  shillings  he  lent  the  military  company  of  Fairfield,  toward 
purchasing  a  set  of  colors." 

At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  made  an  assistant  of  the  General 
Assembly;  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks  deputies;  and  Jehu  Burr  and  John 

*Vol.  I.   Townsand  Lands.     State  Archives  of  Conn.,  p.  196.     Col.  Rec.  Conn..  III.,  282. 
f  See  Appendix. 


220  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1683 

Burr  commissioners.  A  heavy  fine  was  imposed  upon  the  guard  at  meet- 
ing-houses neglecting  their  duty.  Major  Gold  was  made  one  of  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  a  dispute  between  the  Potatuck  Indians  and  the  planters 
of  Woodbury.  John  Banks  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  audit 
the  colony  accounts;  and  also  the  accounts  between  the  colony  and 
Hartford  county.  The  last  Thursday  in  May  was  appointed  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  in  every  town  in  the  colony,  "to  beseech  the  Lord  to 
bless  the  fruits  of  the  fields,  the  trees  &  and  all  the  labors  of  our  hands  ;  " 
to  grant  them  their  civil  and  religious  liberties,  "  &  to  continue  to  be  their 
defense  in  the  midst  of  them."  Sore,  sickness  and  many  deaths  had  occurred 
in  the  colony;  and  the  blight  upon  the  fruit  and  harvest  of  the  previous 
year  was  regarded  a  judgment  from  God  for  the  sins  of  the  people. 

At  the  October  session  of  the  Assembly  it  was  ordered  :  "that  a  sign 
post  should  be  set  up  near  the  center  of  every  town,"  where,  "  proclama- 
tions, sales  of  houses  &  lands,  or  any  other  occasion  should  be  set  up  to 
be  read."  The  sign  post  at  Fairfield  was  erected  upon  the  green,  directly 
opposite  the  meeting-house. 

The  colony  tax  was  at  this  time  reduced  _to  a  penny  half-penny  on 
the  pound.  On  account  of  numerous  unruly  persons  thrusting  them- 
selves into  the  towns,  contrary  to  the  law  that  only  accepted  persons  by  a 
vote  of  the  townsmen,  should  be  allowed  to  live  in  the  towns,  whereby 
much  mischief  had  been  made,  a  fine  of  twenty  shillings  per  week  was  laid 
upon  all  persons  who  should  in  any  capacity  take  up  their  residence  in 
any  part  of  the  colony,  except  apprentices  and  servants  bought  for  hire. 
Vagrants  or  suspected  persons  "  without  certificates  that  they  were  per- 
sons of  good  behaviors,"  were  ordered  to  be  sent  from  constable  to  constable 
to  the  place  from  whence  they  came. 

The  towns  on  Long  Island  Sound  had  for  some  years  past  been  much 
annoyed  with  pirates,  who  had  been  especially  troublesome  within  the  past 
year.  Some  of  them  were  captured,  but  they  caused  considerable 
uneasiness,  on  account  of  their  seizing  vessels  going  out  to  sea,  and  prey- 
ing upon  the  cattle  and  grain  along  the  coast.  A  law  was  passed  that  all 
persons  captured  on  board  vessels  of  a  suspicious  character,  should  be  sent 
to  the  common  jail,  and  "  two  &  two  chained  together,  legs  &  hands,  sent 
to  the  place  from  which  they  came." 

On  the  loth  of  February  the  number  of  acres,  quarter  acres,  rods  and 
feet,  were  laid  out  to  the  land  dividend  holders,  according  to  the  list  of 
March  loth  in  the  Old  Indian  Field.*  During  this  year  the  first  and  second 
Compo  dividends  were  also  assigned  to  the  lawful  holders.  At  the  May 

*  See  Appendix. 


1683]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  221 

election  Major  Gold  was  made  an  assistant,  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Banks 
deputies,  and  Jehu  and  John  Burr  commissioners.  In  order  to  bring 
money  into  the  colony  and  increase  trade,  the  Assembly  ordered  that  all 
silver  pieces  of  eight,  Mexican,  pillar  or  Spanish  money,  and  civil  pieces, 
should  be  valued  and  passed  at  six  shillings  apiece ;  half  pieces  and 
quarter  pieces  to  be  valued  proportionally.  Good  Peru  pieces  were  to  be 
valued  at  five  shillings,  and  all  smaller  pieces  accordingly.  John  Banks 
was  again  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  audit  the  treasurer's  account 
with  the  colony. 

Independent  of  the  former  perplexities,  Edward  Randolph  having 
received  a  power  of  attorney  from  the  heirs  of  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of 
Hamilton  for  a  renewal  of  their  claims  in  New  England,  he  appeared 
before  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies  at  Boston  on  the  3Oth  of 
June,  with  a  view  of  establishing  their  assumed  title.  But  as  the  duke's 
patent  exhibited  by  Randolph,  had  no  proper  signature  or  seal  affixed  to 
it,  an  answer  was  returned  by  the  governor  and  council  on  the  i8th  of 
December:  "That  it  was  presumed  the  said  original  deed  was  never  com- 
pleted according  to  law  ;  "  and  "  that  there  is  no  evidence  of  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  deed  from  the  Great  Council  of  Plymouth  ;"  that  even  if  such  a 
deed  had  ever  existed,  "  the  grantees  had  not  complied  with  the  conditions 
or  considerations  on  which  all  the  grants  of  the  Plymouth  Council  were 
founded,  by  propagating  the  Gospel,  &  planting  a  colony  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  king's  dominions  ;  "  and  that  they  had  never  taken  possession, 
purchased  the  native  right,  or  made  any  legal  claim  to  the  territory. 

That  the  grant  or  patent  from  the  council  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  Lord 
Brooke,  etc.,  in  1631,  preceded  that  to  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  and 
included  the  greater  part  of  the  same  territory;  and  that  this  patent, 
assigned  to  Connecticut,  was  confirmed  by  the  charter  of  Charles  II.,  who, 
in  his  letter  of  April  23,  1664,  "  was  pleased  to  call  his  grant  a  renewing 
of  our  charter."  That  the  duke  having  failed  to  make  known  his  preten- 
sions, the  colonists  of  Connecticut  had  purchased  the  native  right,  and 
under  the  protection  of  the  King's  Letters  Patent  and  special  encourage- 
ment, had  planted  and  improved,  etc.,  and  engaged  in  chargeable  and 
bloody  wars  to  secure  their  rights,  etc. 

That  the  duke's  title,  if  his  deed  had  been  good,  fails  by  the  statute  of 
limitation,  he  not  pursuing  his  title  in  twenty  years.* 

In  the  midst  of  great  and  bitter  trials,  the  last  Wednesday  in  October 
was  appointed  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving  throughout  the  colony  for 
mercies  bestowed  in  relieving,  in  a  measure,  the  sore  sickness  which  had 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  335,  336. 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1683 

prevailed  ;  for  sparing  as  much  fruit  as  they  had  enjoyed  ;  and  for  con- 
tinuing their  civil  and  religious  liberties.  At  the  same  time,  a  day  of 
prayer  and  fasting  was  ordered  to  he  kept  the  last  Wednesday  in  Novem- 
ber, with  prayers  for  the  continuation  of  their  civil  and  religious  liberties, 
and  for  the  mercy  of  God's  loving-kindness  in  their  hour  of  great  depres- 
sion and  sorrow. 

The  arrival  of  Dongan  as  governor  of  New  York  about  this  time,  who 
laid  claim  to  all  the  territory  twenty  miles  east  of  the  Hudson  river,  was 
made  a  cause  for  calling  the  General  Assembly  together  on  the  1/j.th  of 
November,  with  the  hope  of  bringing  about  some  satisfactory  settlement, 
in  regard  to  the  boundary  line  between  the  province  of  New  York  and 
Connecticut.  Deputy-governor  Bishop,  Major  Gold,  Captain  John  Allen, 
and  William  Pitkin,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  visit  Governor  Dongan, 
with  instructions  to  extend  to  him  the  congratulations  of  the  Assembly 
upon  his  arrival  at  New  England,  and  his  highness'  territories  in  America. 
They  were  further  instructed  to  grant  Governor  Dongan's  claim  of  twenty 
miles  east  of  the  Hudson  to  the  Mamarorieck  river,  and  to  use  all  amicable 
endeavors  to  make  this  river  the  western  bounds  of  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut. At  the  same  time  the  Assembly  took  occasion  to  address  a 
letter  to  the  king  of  England,  in  which  they  refute  the  charges  made 
against  them  by  Edward  Randolph,  as  sympathizers  with  the  conspirators 
in  the  late  treasonable  Rye-house  plot,  against  his  Majesty's  person  and 
kingdom.  They  declared  that  they  would  "  make  it  manifest  by  their 
words  &  works,  prayers  &  practices,  that  we  are  men  of  other  principles  ; 
&  do  heartily  return  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  the  preservation  of  your 
Majesty's  government,  &  do  account  it  our  duty  to  make  supplications, 
prayers,  intercessions  for  kings,  especially  your  Majesty  &  government,  & 
all  in  authority,  that  under  them  we  may  lead  a  quiet  &  peaceable  life  in 
all  godlyness  &  honesty."  In  conclusion,  they  most  humbly  prayed  the 
king  for  the  continuation,  of  their  former  privileges  and  liberties  contained 
in  his  royal  charter,  "  that  our  poor  beginnings  may  prosper  under  your 
shadow  to  the  glory  of  God,  &  the  enlargement  of  your  majesties 
dominions,  &c."  * 

Without  delay  Major  Gold  and  the  other  members  of  the  committee 
visited  Governor  Dongan,  and  after  due  deliberation  brought  about  an 
agreement  with  him  that  the  boundary  line,  "should  begin  at  Byram 
river  where  it  falleth  into  the  Sound,  at  a  place  called  Lyon's  Point, f — in 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  136,  138. 

f  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  330.  Thomas  Lyon  was  one  of  the  planters  who  removed  from 
Fairfield  to  Greenwich,  after  whom  Lyon's  Point  received  its  name. 


1684]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION*  223 

every  place  twenty  miles  distant  from  the  Hudson  river,  between  the  ter- 
ritories of  New  York  &  the  colony  of  Connecticut — to  extend  northward 
to  the  south  line  of  the  Massachusetts  colony." 

At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  again  chosen  an  assistant,  Jehu 
Burr  and  John  Tyler  deputies,  and  Jehu  and  John  Burr  commissioners. 
The  Assembly,  approving  of  the  agreement  between  their  committee  and 
Governor  Dongan,  appointed  John  Banks  and  Jehu  Burr,  with  Jonathan 
Selleck  of  Stamford,  to  meet  Governor  Dongan's  committee  to  survey  and 
lay  out  the  boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Connecticut.  John 
Banks  and  Jehu  Burr,  with  Cornelius  Hull,  were  appointed  to  measure 
out  to  Samuel  Rogers  of  New  London,  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
granted  to  him  at  the  last  October  Assembly.  Jehu  Burr  and  John  Burr, 
with  Thomas  Fitch  of  Norwalk,  were  made  a  committee  to  order  a  planta- 
tion "  above  Norwalk  or  Fairfield,"  at  Paquiage  or  Danbury,  '•  &  to  receive 
inhabitants  to  plant  there." 

Again  the  last  Thursday  in  May  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  throughout  the  colony.  Constant  complaints  having  reached  the 
king  that  no  law  existed  in  the  colony  for  the  punishment  of  pirates,  a 
letter  by  his  order  was  addressed  to  the  governor  and  council  of  Connec- 
ticut, requiring  that  a  law,  accompanying  his  letter,  should  be  enforced  for 
the  suppression  of  piracy.  Governor  Treat  called  an  extra  session  of  the 
Assembly  on  the  5th  of  July,  at  which  time  the  king's  act  was  accepted, 
and  all  the  magistrates  and  assistants  throughout  the  colony  were  given 
authority  to  raise  necessary  forces  for  its  enforcement.  In  October  Jehu 
Burr  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to  audit  the  treasurer's  account. 
Pieces  of  eight  shillings  were  reduced  to  six,  and  smaller  pieces  in  the 
same  proportion. 

Special  acts  were  passed  this  year  by  the  General  Court  for  the  sup- 
pression of  vice  in  the  colony.  The  select-men,  constables  and  grand  jury- 
men in  every  plantation,  were  ordered  "to  have  a  special  care  in  their 
respective  places  to  promote  the  due  &  full  attendance  of  the  laws  made 
in  May  1676,*  under  a  penalty  of  10s  for  every  neglect  of  the  said  laws." 

The  evils  which  had  crept  into  Fairfield,  as  well  as  many  other  towns 
in  Connecticut,  were  in  striking  contrast  to  the  happy  state  of  morality 
of  the  early  days  of  the  settlements.  Of  these  days  one  writer  says : 

"  Profane  swearing,  drunkenness,  &  beggars  are  but  rare  in  the  compass  of  this 
patent,  through  the  circumspection  of  the  magistrates,  &  the  providence  of  God 
hitherto,  the  poor  there  living  by  their  labors  &  great  wages,  proportionably,  better 
than  the  rich,  by  their  flocks,  which,  without  exceeding  great  care,  quickly  waste."! 

*  Col.    Rec.   Conn.,    II,   280-283.  f  Lech  ford's  Plain   Dealing,   p.  67. 


224  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1685 

Another  writer  states  : 

"  I  thank  God,  I  have  lived  in  a  Colony  of  many  thousand  English  almost  these 
twelve  years,  &  am  held  a  very  sociable  man  ;  yet  I  may  confidently  say,  1  never  heard 
but  one  oath  sworn,  nor  never  saw  one  man  drunk — in  all  this  time  I  can  call  to  mind."* 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Peters  wrote  in  1660  : 

"  In  seven  years,  among  thousands  there  dwelling,  I  never  saw  any  drunk,  nor  heard 
any  oath,  nor  (saw)  any  begging,  nor  Sabbath  broken." 

Cotton  Mather  states  : 

"  I  have  read  a  printed  sermon,  which  was  preached  before  both  houses  of  parlia- 
ment, the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  &  the  Assembly  of  Divines;  the  greatest  audience 
in  the  world ;  &  in  that  sermon  the  preacher  had  this  passage.  '  /  have  lived  in  a 
country  -where  in  seven  years  I  never  saw  a  beggar,  nor  heard  one  oath,  nor  looked 
upon  a  drunkard.  Shall  I  tell  you  where  this  Utopia  was  ?  TVVAS  NEW  ENGLAND.'  "  t 

The  fate  of  wars,  increase  of  comforts  and  luxuries,  a  more  frequent 
communication  with  foreign  parts,  and  the  one  constant  demand  above  all 
others  of  civil  and  ecclesiastical  liberties,  with  the  unhappy  state  of  affairs 
in  the  mother  country,  were  the  causes  which  led  so  many  to  deviate  from 
the  early  morality  of  the  planters  and  their  families.  Emigrants,  from 
time  to  time,  of  different  thought  and  training,  had  settled  in  the  towns 
and  sown  the  seeds  of  evil  and  insubordination.  Perhaps  no  town  in 
Connecticut  made  greater  efforts  than  Fairfield  to  keep  these  intruders 
from  dwelling  within  its  limits. 

Owing  to  great  neglect  of  the  public  highways,  a  law  was  passed 
appointing  surveyors,  duly  sworn  to  their  duty,  in  each  town,  to  clear  the 
main  highways  of  all  "  sloughs,  bushes,  trees  &  stones,  &  keep  them  in 
good  repair  "  from  Hartford  to  New  Haven,  and  from  New  Haven  through 
Fairfield  to  Greenwich.  The  town  of  Fairfield  sustained  a  great  loss  at 
this  time  in  the  death  of  John  Banks,  who  died  on  the  I2th  of  December. 
For  many  years,  as  has  appeared  in  this  history,  he  was  one  of  the  most 
respected  and  useful  lawyers  and  citizens  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut. 
Few  men  in  New  England  were  more  highly  esteemed  for  wisdom,  trust, 
and  executive  ability.  Year  after  year  he  traveled  from  place  to  place,  in 
the  exercise  of  his  official  appointments.  Now,  after  a  well  spent  life  of 
great  usefulness,  he  was  gathered,  with  the  fathers  of  Connecticut,  to  his  rest. 

The  committee  for  running  the  boundary  line  between  New  York  and 
Connecticut,  having  completed  their  work,  made  a  report  of  the  same  to 
the  governors  of  Connecticut  and  Ne\v  York,  which  was  accepted  and 
ratified  by  them  at  Stratford,  on  the  23d  of  February. 

*  Ward's  Simple  Cobbler  of  Agawam  (1647),  p.  67.          f  Magnalia,  Vol.  I.,  B.  I.,  p.  95. 


i685J  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION 


225 


The  death  of  Charles  II.,  which  occurred  on  the  6th  of  February,  was 
immediately  announced  by  letter  to  the  governor  of  Connecticut  by  the 
Lords  of  the  Council,  with  orders  to  proclaim  his  late  Majesty's  only 
brother  and  heir,  James  II.,  successor  to  the  throne  of  England.  Assur- 
ances were  given  that  the  new  king  had,  by  his  most  gracious  proclama- 
tion, signified  his  royal  pleasure,  that  all  persons  in  office  at  the  time  of 
his  brother's  death,  should  continue  in  the  same,  until  his  pleasure  should 
be  further  known.  On  the  igth  of  April,  this  letter  reached  Governor 
Treat,  who  summoned  his  council  to  Hartford  on  the  22cl  of  the  month, 
when  it  was  "ordered  that  his  Majestic  James  the  Second  be  proclaimed 
King  of  England,  Scotland,  France  &  Ireland,  at  Hartford,  at  two  o'clock 
on  the  same  day,  &  in  all  the  other  county  towns  of  the  colony  forthwith." 

A  mounted  herald  was  immediately  sent  from  Hartford  to  New 
Haven,  through  Fairfield  and  Stamford,  proclaiming  with  trumpet's  warn- 
ing notes,  the  accession  of  the  new  king.  The  same  day  a  letter  of 
condolence  for  the  loss  of  his  brother,  the  late  king,  was  addressed  to  King 
James,  with  assurances  of  their  fidelity  to  the  crown  ;  and  craving  from 
him  the  continuation  of  their  liberties  granted  them  by  "  King  Charles 
the  Second  of  happy  memory." 

The  colonists  had  but  little  to  expect  from  the  new  king;  but  they 
hoped  by  their  early  avowal  of  loyalty,  to  win  his  good  will.  Again  at 
the  May  election  Major  Gold  was  made  an  assistant;  Jehu  Burr  and 
Thomas  Jones  deputies,  and  Jehu  and  John  Burr  commissioners.  Nathan- 
iel Seely  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of  the  Fairfield  train-band.  John 
Burr  and  Josiah  Harvey  were  made  members  of  a  committee  to  run 
boundary  lines  between  Stamford  and  Greenwich  and  Stamford  and  Nor- 
walk.  At  the  same  time  Jonathan  Selleck,  Jonathan  Pitman  and  Joseph 
Judd,  were  made  a  committee  to  run  the  long  disputed  boundary  line 
between  Norwalk  and  Fairfield. 

Fully  alive  to  the  approaching  danger  of  being  deprived  of  their 
chartered  privileges  at  almost  any  moment,  the  Assembly  ordered  that 
every  township  in  the  colony  should  take  out  letters  patent  under  the 
Charter  of  Charles  II.  of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  Connecticut, 
which  should  confirm  to  the  owners  of  estates  and  to  their  heirs,  all 
grants  of  lands  which  had  been  obtained  by  gifts,  purchase  or  other- 
wise, of  the  natives;  which  patent  should  be  sealed  with  the  seal  of 
the  colony,  and  signed  by  the  governor  and  secretary  in  the  name  of 
the  Assembly,  and  entered  upon  record.  It  was  voted  that  this  patent, 
or  a  record  of  the  same,  should  be  sufficient  evidence  of  its  validity 
for  all  and  every  township,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  for  the  hold- 
15 


226  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1685 

ing  of    the  said  lands  firm   to    them,  their    heirs,  successors  and  assigns 
forever. 

The  magistrates  of  the  towns  hastened  to  comply  with  this  order. 
Major  Gold,  and  deputies  Jehu  Burr  and  Thomas  Jones,  secured  a 
patent  for  Fairfield  on  the  26th  of  the  month,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  true  copy  : 

FAIRFIELD   PATENT. 

The  General  Court  of  Connecticut  have  formerly  granted  to  the  proprietors  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Fairfield,  all  those  lands  both  meadow  &  upland  within  these 
abutments  upon  the  sea  towards  the  south  about  seven  miles  in  breadth,  &  in  length 
from  the  sea  into  the  wilderness  twelve  miles,  &  upon  Stratford  bounds  on  the  east,  &  the 
wilderness  north,  &  in  Norwalk  bounds  on  the  west,  only  a  parcel  of  land  between  their 
bounds  &  Saugatuck  river,  that  is  likewise  granted  to  the  said  Fairfield,  provided,  the  said 
Saugatuck  do  not  exceed  two  miles  from  the  bounds  of  the  said  Fairfield,  the  said  lands, 
having  been  by  purchase  or  otherwise  lawfully  obtained  of  the  Indian  native  proprietors; 
&  whereas  the  proprietors,  the  foresaicl  inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  in  the  colony  of  Connecti- 
cut, have  made  application  to  the  Governor  &  company  of  the  said  colony  of  Connecticut, 
assembled  in  court,  May,  25  1685,  that  they  may  have  a  patent  for  confirmation  of  the 
aforesaid  land,  so  purchased  &  granted  to  them,  as  aforesaid,  &  which  they  have, 
stood,  seized,  &  quietly  possessed  of  for  many  years,  last  past,  without  interruption.  Now 
for  a  more  full  confirmation  of  the  aforesaid  tract  of  land,  as  it  is  butted  &  bounded  as 
aforesaid  unto  the  present  proprietors  of  the  said  Township  of  Fairfield  in  the  possession 
&  enjoyment  of  the  premises,  know  ye  that  the  said  Governor  &  company  assembled  in 
General  Court  according  to  the  commission  granted  to  us  by  his  Majestic  in  our  charter, 
have  given,  granted,  &  by  these  present  do  give,  grant,  ratify  &  confirm  unto  Major 
Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  Samuel  Wakeman,  Mr.  Jehu  Burr,  Mr.  John  Burr,  Mr.  Thomas  Sta- 
ples, Mr.  John  Green,  Mr.  Joseph  Lockwood,  Mr.  John  Wheeler,  Mr.  Richard  Hubbell, 
Mr.  George  Squire,  &  Mr.  Isaac  Wheeler,  &  the  rest  of  the  present  proprietors  of  the 
Township  of  Fairfield,  their  heirs,  successors  &  assigns  forever,  according  to  the  tenor  of 
East  Greenwich  in  Kent  in  free  &  common  socage  &  not  in  capitte,  nor  by  Knights' 
service,  they  to  make  improvements  of  the  same,  as  they  are  capable  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  country,  yielding,  rendering,  &  paying  therefor  to  the  Sovereign 
Lord,  the  King,  his  heirs  £  successors,  his  due,  according  to  charter. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  cauced  the  seal  of  the  colony  to  be  hereunto  affixed  this 
26  of  May,  1685,  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  James  the  Second  of 
England,  Scotland,  £  Ireland,  King,  defender  of  the  faith,  &c. 

By  order  of  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut. 

Signed, 

Robert  Treat,  Gov. 
John   Allen,  Sec.  * 

*  Col.  Rec.  Deeds,  Patents,  etc.  State  Archives,  Vol.  II.  The  name  of  the  governor  and  sec- 
retary were  first  subscribed  to  the  patents  of  1685,  but  on  the  3Oth  of  May,  K'iSy,  this  mode  of 
signing  was  changed,  by  adding  to  the  Secretary's  subscription,  ''per  order  of  the  Govenr  & 
Company  of  Connecticut  ;"  and  by  order  of  the  court,  all  town  patents  were  re-signed. — Col.  Rec. 
Conn.,  III.,  Note,  p.  177. 


i68s]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  227 

A  letter  was  addressed  to  King  James  with  promises  of  faith  and 
allegiance,  humbly  seeking  his  clemency  and  protection  for  the  colony  of 
Connecticut,  "first  planted  in  the  days  of  his  royal  father  of  happy  mem- 
ory, &  by  the  bounty  &  goodness  of  their  late  Sovereign."  To  this  letter 
an  answer  was  returned,  dated  June  26,  in  which  King  James  assured  them 
of  his  royal  care  and  protection  "in  the  preservation  of  their  rights,  &  in 
the  defense  &  security  of  their  states,"  with  a  special  request,  "that  the 
Governor  of  Connecticut  signify  the  same  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony." 
Under  the  excuse  for  necessary  repairs  for  the  navy,  he  wrote  that  he  had 
levied  a  tax  upon  all  tobacco  and  sugar  imported  into  England  ;  but  that 
it  might  not  be  oppressive  to  planters  and  merchants,  the  tax  was  to  be 
collected  only  from  retailers,  in  England,  according  to  their  lawful  rates. 
These  flattering  assurances  gave  but  short  lived  hope  to  the  colony,  and 
were  made  all  the  more  despicable  in  their  eyes,  by  the  perfidious  conduct 
of  the  king  a  few  weeks  later. 

Edward  Randolph  having  pursued  his  resolution  to  undermine  the 
chartered  rights  of  Connecticut,  and  in  fact  all  the  English  colonies  in 
America,  received  on  the  5th  of  May,  from  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of 
Trade  and  Foreign  Plantations,  a  letter,  requesting  him  to  prepare  a  paper 
of  complaints  against  them,  which  should  justify  writs  of  quo  warranto 
being  granted.  In  reply,  Randolph  returned  the  following  articles  of  mis- 
demeanor; and  urged  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  sending  quo  war- 
rantos.  The  first  charge  made  by  him  against  the  governor  and  com- 
pany of  Connecticut  was,  "  that  they  had  made  laws  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  England  ;  under  which  head  he  reports  that  only  magistrates  were 
allowed  to  join  persons  in  wedlock."  Second,  "that  the}'  imposed  fines 
upon  the  people,  &  converted  them  to  their  own  use."  Third,  "that  they 
enforced  the  oath  of  fidelity  upon  the  people,  without  administering  the 
oath  of  supremacy  &  allegiance  to  the  king,  as  directed  in  their  charter." 
Fourth,  "  that  they  denied  the  people  the  exercise  of  the  religion  of  the 
Church  of  England,  arbitrarily  fining  those  who  refused  to  go  to  their  con- 
gregational assemblies."  Fifth,  "  that  his  majesties  subjects  could  not 
obtain  justice  in  the  courts  of  Connecticut."  Sixth,  "th.it  they  excluded 
all  gentlemen  of  known  loyalty,  in  order  to  keep  the  government  in  their 
own  hands." 

Upon  the  receipt  of  these  charges  in  England,  a  quo  warranto  was 
issued  from  the  council  chamber  on  the  2ist  of  July,  confirmed  by  the 
king,  against  the  Governor  and  company  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut, 
which  required  them  to  appear  before  the  Lord-,  and  show  by  what 
authority  they  exercised  their  privileges  and  power  of  government.  Not 


228  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1685 

only  did  the  ambitious  Randolph  petition  for  a  quo  warranto  against  Con- 
necticut, but  also  against  Rhode  Island,  New  Jersey,  Delaware  and  Mary- 
land. Already  Massachusetts  was  under  the  ban  of  a  quo  warranto 
through  his  influence,  who,  in  his  yearly  visits  to  England  had  whispered 
in  the  royal  ear  many  evil  tidings  against  the  colonies.  Upon  receiving 
notice  that  he  had  been  thus  far  successful  in  his  scheme,  Randolph  wrote 
to  England  in  August,  urging  that  the  writs  of  quo  warranto  be  sent  out 
immediately,  before  winter  set  in,  as  by  law  one  was  made  returnable 
before  the  last  of  September,  and  the  other  at  Easter.  He  made  bold  to 
propose  that  a  vessel  should  be  dispatched  without  delay  from  London, 
with  further  commands  about  the  writs  ;  and  also  conveying  to  him  a  com- 
mission to  erect  a  temporary  government,  "  &  so,  by  that  means,  bring  the 
several  colonies  in  New  England  to  a  united  &  nearer  independence  to  the 
crown." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  October  Assembly,  a  vote  was  passed  authoriz- 
ing the  governor  or  deputy-governor,  with  six  of  the  assistants,  to  hear  and 
determine  all  such  public  occasions,  as  might  occur  before  the  General 
Court  of  May,  1686.  The  constables  of  the  plantations  were  ordered  to 
collect  the  county  taxes,  settle  their  accounts  with  the  colony  treasurer, 
and  dispose  of  them  according  to  his  order,  before  each  General  Court  in 
May,  under  the  lawful  penalty,  "any  order  to  the  contrary  in  anyivise  not- 
withstanding^ 

One  pence  half  penny  on  the  pound,  continued  to  be  the  colony  tax; 
but  any  one  who  could  pay  two-thirds  of  his  tax  in  Boston  or  in  Pine-tree 
silver  money,  was  exempt  from  paying  the  other  third.* 

The  year  1685  was  one  particularly  noticeable,  as  the  Fairfield  meet- 
ing-house was  this  year  enriched  with  a  bell,  which  no  doubt  was  a  source 
of  great  delight  alike  to  the  aged  and  to  the  youth  of  the  town.  Many  of 
those  who  were  born  in  England  had  not  probably  heard  the  sound  of  a 
church  bell,  since  the  old  home  bells  of  their  native  towns  rung  out  their 
last  farewell.  They  had  passed  through  many  hardships -and  many  sor- 
rows since  those  years  of  youth  and  buoyancy  ;  but  in  the  mean  time  they 
had  accomplished  great  things  ;  and  as  the  meeting-house  bell,  for  the  first 
time,  peeled  out  its  cheering  sounds,  many  thoughts  of  the  old  home  and 

*  Pine-tree  money  was  coined  by  John  Hull  of  Boston,  as  early  as  May  27,  1652.  The  first 
coins  were  XIId  ,  VId-,  and  IIId.  In  1662  a  coin  of  IId-,  was  added.  The  pine-tree  money 
formed  a  standard,  by  which  circulation  was  made  from  time  to  time  in  New  England.  Its 
exportation  was  forbidden  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiting  all  visible  estate.  It  was  against  the 
royal  law  to  coin  money  in  America  ;  and  England  had  protested  against  the  use  of  the  pine-tree 
money. 


1686]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  229 

of  the  new,  must  have  passed  in  quick  succession  through  the  avenues  of 
busy  memory.     Among  the  town  records  is  the  following  note : 

"At  a  town  meeting  held  April  28,  1685,  it  was  voted,  that  the  townsmen  should  settle 
Samuel  Wilson's  matter,  about  satisfying  him  for  money  the  town  borrowed  of  him  to  pay 
for  the  meeting-house  bell." 

Until  long  after  the  Revolution  it  was  the  custom  to  ring  this  bell  at 
twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  and  at  nine  in  the  evening,  at  which  time  the  law 
required  all  peace-abiding  citizens  to  be  at  home.  At  the  same  town 
meeting  it  was  also  voted  that,  if  necessary,  a  certain  amount  of  lands 
should  be  sold  to  complete  the  payment  of  Mr.  Timothy  Hoarde,  the 
school-teacher,  for  the  year.  Another  event  of  interest  this  year  was  an 
invitation  extended  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  to  preach  the  election 
sermon  before  the  court  of  election,  held  at  Hartford  on  the  I4th  of  May. 
This  sermon  was  so  highly  esteemed,  that  Major  Gold  was  instructed  by 
the  court  to  thank  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wakeman  "for  his  great  paynes  he  had 
taken  in  the  preaching  of  the  election  sermon,  &  to  desire  him  to  grant  a 
copy  thereof,  that  it  may  be  printed."  A  copy  of  this  sermon,  beautifully 
bound,  is  to  be  found  in  the  State  Library  at  Hartford.  A  brief  extract 
from  it  will  give  an  idea  of  the  unhappy  events  which  appear  to  have  vis- 
ited the  colony  at  that  time.  He  says  : 

"  And  how  hath  God  done  by  us?  Hath  He  not  multiplied  his  witnesses  against  us? 
Yea  of  late,  both  summer  &  winter  abode  with  us  ;  to  the  taking  away  of  many  of  us  ? 
And  how  sadly  hath  God  of  late  years  smitten  us  in  all  the  labors  of  our  hands,  by  blast- 
ing mildews,  cattepillars,  worms,  tares,  floods  &  droughts  ?  .  .  He  hath  cut  us  short 
in  our  numbers,  brought  us  low  by  taking  away  many,  &  many  righteous  ones  from  us  ; 
hath  He  not  of  late  years  especially  bereft  us  of  many  magistrates,  ministers  &  other  usr- 
ful  persons,  &  added  that  last  sore  breach,  &  causefully  bitter  lamented  loss,  our  rest."* 

Robert  Turney  was  this  year  confirmed  captain  of  the  Fairfield  train- 
band. Meanwhile,  the  magistrates  of  Fairfield  continued  to  purchase 
lands  of  the  Indians,  and  to  make  good  their  title  to  them  under  their 
town  patent. 

On  the  llth  of  February,  1685-6,  the  plain  southeast  of  Golden  hill, 
called  Wolves'  Pit  Plain,  which  appears  to  have  been  the  low  land  near 

*  Another  sermon  of  Mr.  Wakeman's,  which  was  preached  at  the  funeral  of  John  Tappan,  of 
Boston,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Miss  Mary  L.  Burr,  of  Fairfield.  This  sermon  is  entitled 
"A  Young  Man's  Legacy  to  the  Rising  Generation," — "being  a  Sermon  preached  upon  the  Death. 
&  at  the  Desire  of  John  Tappan  of  Boston  ;  Who  deceased  at  Fairfield  the  10  of  Oct..  1672,  being 
in  the  Nineteenth  year  of  his  Age.  By  Samuel  Wakeman  pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ  there." 
The  texts  selected  for  the  sermon  were  from  Eccles.  vii.  2,  and  Ecclcs.  xi.  y.  It  was  printed  at 
Cambridge  by  Marmaduke  Johnson  in  1673. 


230  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1686 

Greenlea,  lying  west  of  the  Stratford  line,  was  purchased  of  the  Indians.* 
In  April  it  was  voted  that  as  much  of  the  plain  should  be  sold  at  an 
outcry  by  Sergeant  George  Squire  at  the  next  training  day,  as  would  pay 
for  the  purchase  of  the  said  neck  of  land.  It  appears  that  Samuel  Hall, 
on  the  25th  of  November,  for  a  certain  portion  of  land  granted  him  by 
the  town,  lent  the  desired  amount  to  pay  for  the  plain,  f 

Notwithstanding  the  knowledge  they  possessed,  that  Randolph  held  a 
writ  of  quo  warranto  against  the  colony,  the  governor,  deputy-governor,  as- 
sistants and  deputies,  who  had  been  nominated  in  the  fall  for  election,  met 
at  Hartford  on  the  I3th  of  May,  and  proceeded  to  elect  Major  Treat  gov- 
ernor and  James  Bishop  deputy-governor.  Major  Gold's  name  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  list  of  assistants,  and  John  and  Jehu  Burr,  who  had  been 
nominated  assistants  of  the  General  Assembly,  were  elected  deputies  and 
also  commissioners  for  Fairfield  Lieutenants  Nathaniel  Seely  and  Cor- 
nelius Hull,  were  appointed  to  lay  out  for  Major  Gold  and  Jehu  Burr,  tracts 
of  land  granted  them  by  the  Assembly.  Accordingly  two  miles  square  was 
staked  out  to  Major  Gold  at  Umpawage,  and  deeded  to  him  by  the  Indians 
of  Fairfield,  Danbury  and  Redding,  on  the  2/th  of  May.  Jehu  Burr  shared 
his  purchase  of  the  Indians  with  his  brother,  John  Burr,  but  did  not  receive 
a  deed  of  the  same  until  the  I2th  of  September,  1687. 

Again  the  subject  of  the  division  line  between  Fairfield  and  Norwalk 
was  brought  before  the  Assembly  ;  but  no  further  satisfaction  was  given  than 
the  court  grant  of  1650.  The  governor  or  deputy-governor,  with  six  of  the 
assistants,  were  again  appointed  to  transact  all  legal  business  in  case  occasion 
called  them  together.  Before  the  Assembly  adjourned,  Edward  Randolph 
had  arrived  at  Boston  (May  15).  On  the  2/th  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Gov- 
ernor Treat  and  his  council,  notifying  them  as  a  private  gentleman  that  he 
held  in  his  possession  a  quo  warranto  against  the  colony  of  Connecticut  and 
also  one  against  Rhode  Island.  That  on  the  25th  instant,  Joseph  Dudley 
and  the  persons  named  in  his  Majesty's  commission  of  government  (some 
few  indisposed  excepted)  entered  upon  the  government  of  Massachusetts 
with  the  general  consent  and  applause  of  the  people  ;  and  that  nothing  now 
remained,  on  the  part  of  the  governor  and  company  of  Connecticut,  but  to 
make  a  humble  submission,  and  a  dutiful  resignation  of  their  charter;  but 
that  if  they  attempted  to  defend  it  at  law,  "  while  contending  for  a  shadow, " 
they  would  in  the  first  place  lose  all  that  part  of  Connecticut  to  New  York  ; 
that  he  did  not  wish  to  enter  the  colony  "as  a  herald  to  announce  war"; 
that  he  expected  ships  from  London  in  about  a  month,  and  whatever  was 
intended  to  be  done  must  be  accomplished  before  they  arrived.  He  invited 
*  Letter  A,  Town  Deeds,  Appendix  No.  XV.  f  Letter  B,  Town  Votes,  77,  78. 


1686]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE    ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  231 

the  governor,  deputy-governor  and  Major  Gold  to  meet  him  at  Mr.  Smith's 
house  in  Narragansett.  He  closed  his  letter  by  saying,  "  So  bless  not  your- 
selves with  vaine  expectations  of  advantage  &  spinnage  out  of  time  by 
delay  "  ;  and  adds,  "  I  will  engage,  tho'  the  weather  be  warm,  the  writs  will 
keep  sound,  &  as  good  as  when  first  landed." 

These  threats  did  not  intimidate  or  influence  Governor  Treat  or  his 
Council  to  resign  their  charter.  They  well  knew  that  the  time  for  making 
returns  had  passed,  and  that  the  writs  were  harmless  before  Randolph 
landed  at  Boston.  By  holding  the  quo  warranto  over  them,  however,  Ran- 
dolph hoped  to  secure  the  surrender  of  their  charter.  "  He  even  endeavored 
to  construe  the  Council's  acknowledgment  of  his  letter,  into  a  submission 
of  service  of  the  writs." 

In  a  letter  written  by  Governor  Treat  to  Governor  Dongan,  he  stated 
that  Randolph's  threat  of  Connecticut's  being  made  subject  to  the  govern- 
ment of  New  York,  did  not  at  all  prejudice  them  against  him  or  his  govern- 
ment ;  that  Randolph  had  informed  them  of  a  quo  warranto  against  them, 
but  as  yet  they  had  not  seen  it;  and  that  they  were  waiting,  with  silence 
and  patience,  what  might  next  come  upon  them.  Threats  proved  of  little 
avail  with  the  Connecticut  planters.  All  things  moved  on  in  silence  and 
patience  as  before,  in  the  towns;  but  all  felt  that  a  crisis  in  their  govern- 
ment was  near  at  hand.  Having  purchased  Wolves  Pit  Plain,  the  towns- 
men of  Fairfield  agreed  with  the  Indians  of  Golden-hill,  to  sell  them  suffi- 
cient land  to  continue  the  public  highway  across  the  hill,  to  join  the  main 
highway  to  Stratford. 

Exasperated  with  the  coolness  of  the  Connecticut  council,  Randolph 
again  wrote  to  Governor  Treat,  stating  that  he  held  their  letter  in  reply  to 
his  of  the  2/th  of  May  to  be  sufficient  at  Whitehall  to  justify  him,  "with- 
out any  further  serving,  or  showing  any  authority  from  his  Majestic  at  all 
about  the  Colony,"  in  assuming  the  reins  of  government  over  them.*  On 
the  6th  of  July,  Governor  Treat  summoned  a  special  court  of  the  assistants 
and  deputies  to  meet  at  Hartford.  Every  town  in  the  colony  was  repre- 
sented. Nathan  Gold  and  John  Burr  were  present  from  Fairfield.  It  was 
voted  to  address  the  king,  without  delay,  petitioning  for  a  continuation  of 
their  chartered  privileges.  A  letter  was  prepared,  supplicating  the  king 
to  pardon  the  mistakes  and  failures  they  had  made  in  their  government, 
which,  "  upon  the  first  intimation,  they  were  ready  to  reform,  under  the 
royal  grant  of  his  late  Majestic,  of  happy  memory,  Charles  the  Second  ;  " 
their  mistakes  having  arisen  more  "  from  want  of  right  understanding  in 
law,  than  otherwise." 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  355.    Documents  Relating  to  the  Col.  Hist,  of  New  York.  Vol.  III..  3*6- 


232  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1686 

;  On  the  2ist  of  July  a  messenger  from  Randolph  arrived  at  Hartford, 
who  delivered  to  Major  Talcott  and  Secretary  Allen,  the  two  writs  of 
quo  warranto.  The  first  was  made  returnable  at  the  Michaelmas  term  of 
j6$5,  within  eight  days  of  St.  Martin's  ;  and  the  second  within  fifteen  days 
after  Easter.  Accompanying  the  writs  was  a  letter  dated  October  6,  1685, 
from  the  king's  attorney-general  to  the  sheriff  of  London,  ordering  the 
governor  and  company  of  Connecticut  to  appear  before  the  judges  of  the 
king's  bench  within  fifteen  days  after  Easter,  "  to  answer  by  what  war- 
rants they  used  their  liberties,  privileges  &  franchise." 

,  Again  Governor  Treat  summoned  the  Assembly  to  meet  at  Hartford 
on  the  28th  of  July.  Two  days  before  he  had  received  a  private  letter 
from  Governor  Dudley,  urging  the  importance  of  the  annexation  of  Con- 
necticut and  Rhode  Island  to  Massachusetts,  rather  than  the  province  of 
New  York.  A  letter  conveying  power  of  attorney  to  William  Whiting,  of 
London  (brother  of  Secretary  William  Whiting,  of  Hartford),  was  exe- 
cuted by  the  governor  and  council  on  the  24th  of  August,  with  instruc- 
tions to  present  their  petition  to  the  king  to  appear  before  the  judges  of 
the  king's  bench  in  a  just  defense  of  their  charter;  and  if  absolutely  nec- 
essary, "  to  accept  &  submit  to  such  regulations  as  his  majesty  might 
think  fit  to  order."  A  second  letter  of  petition  was  addressed  to  the 
king,  showing  that  they  had  not  received  the  quo  warranto  in  time  to 
appear  before  him,  praying  him  for  the  full  bounds  of  their  chartered 
liberties,  assigned  by  his  Majesty's  commissioners,  Colonel  Nichols  and 
his  associates,  and  setting  further  before  him  the  grievous  wrong  to  the 
planters  ;  the  disputes  which  would  arise  if  placed  under  the  government 
of  another  colony  in  regard  to  their  former  privileges  and  estates  ;  and 
humbly  begging  that  their  estates  and  religious  liberties  might  be  con- 
tinued to  them.  An  extra  tax  of  a  half-penny  upon  the  pound  was  raised 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  sending  an  agent  to  England,  etc. 

Meanwhile,  Major  Gold  was  made  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Governor 
Treat  to  Governor  Dongan,  counseling  with  him  as  to  the  best  way  to 
secure  the  king's  favor: 

"Aware  of  the  advantage  to  be  gained  by  the  annexation  of  Connecticut  to  New 
York,  Governor  Dongan  gave  every  encouragement  of  assistance  to  Governor  Treat.  In 
his  report  of  the  state  of  the  Province  of  New  York  to  the  Lord's  Committee  in  1686,  he 
assured  them,  that  it  would  be  impossible  '  to  make  anything  considerable  of  his  Majes- 
ties customes  &  revenue '  without  Connecticut  &  East  &  West  Jersey  :  '  &  that  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  was  so  well  convinced  of  this,  that  he  sent  Capt.  Salisbury  to  England 
in  1676,  to  let  his  royal  hyness,  now  his  Majesty,  know  how  impossible  it  was  for  this 
Government  to  subsist  without  the  addition  of  Connecticut.'  " 


168-;]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  233 

But  little  business  was  transacted  at  the  October  Assembly,  save  the 
reduction  of  the  colony  tax  to  one  penny  on  the  pound  ;  and  appointing 
the  last  Wednesday  in  the  month  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving.  On  the 
2Oth  of  December  Sir  Edmund  Andros  arrived  in  Boston  ;  and  on  the  same 
day  published  his  commission,  dated  June  3,  1686,  as  •'  Captain  General 
&  Governor  in  Chief,  in  &  over  the  Colonies  of  Massachusetts  Bay  &  New 
Plymouth,  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  &  Maine,  &  the  Narragansett 
County  or  Kings  Province."  On  the  22d,  he  dispatched  a  messenger  to 
the  governors  of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut,  with  letters  informing 
them,  that  he  was  authorized  by  the  king  to  receive  the  surrender  of 
their  charters  ("if  tendered  by  you").  The  same  day  Governor  Treat 
received  a  letter  from  Randolph,  urging  him  to  annex  Connecticut  to 
the  government  of  Andros;*  and  also  notifying  him,  that  a  third  quo 
warranto  had  been  issued  against  Connecticut.  The  time  being  short  for 
them  to  appear  in  England,  he  advised  them  to  appear  before  Governor 
Andros.  On  the  28th  Governor  Treat  received  a  letter  from  the  under- 
sheriff  of  London,  inclosing  the  third  writ  of  quo  warranto,  dated  on  the 
23d  of  October  following,  and  made  returnable  at  the  Hilary  Term,  within 
eight  days  of  the  Purification  of  the  Virgin  Mary  (Feb.  9,  1687). 

Governor  Treat  lost  no  time  in  summoning  a  special  General  Court  at 
Hartford  on  the  26th  of  January.  John  Burr  was  present  from  Fairfield. 
Whatever  was  necessary  to  be  done  in  the  emergency  was  left  to  the 
governor  and  council.  All  bills  owing  the  colony  were  ordered  to  be 
paid  into  the  treasury ;  if  any  money  remained  over  after  the  public  debts 
were  paid,  it  was  to  be  divided  among  the  counties.  Grants  of  lands  were 
confirmed  to  towns  and  individuals.  Lieutenants  Morehouse  and  Seely,  of 
Fairfield,  were  appointed  to  apportion  to  Lieutenant  Cornelius  Hull  his 
grant  of  land,  according  to  the  former  order  of  the  Assembly.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  Stratford  were  ordered  to  lay  out  a  cart  and  horse  highway  from 
Stratford  to  Pequonnock,  for  a  country  road  as  speedily  as  possible ;  and 
if  they  failed  to  accomplish  it  as  soon  as  specified,  Major  Gold,  John  Beard 
and  Captain  Samuel  Eales  were  authorized  to  lay  it  out.  An  extra  farth- 
ing on  the  pound  was  added  to  the  county  tax,  which  in  May,  having  been 

*  Andros  was  so  eager  to  annex  Connecticut  to  Massachusetts,  that  in  March,  1687,  he  wrote  to 
the  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  "  that  without  them,  we  are  neither  able 
to  defray  our  public  charges,  nor  our  fishery  be  maintained  without  provisions,  &  particularly 
wheat  from  thence."  That  the  people  of  Massachusetts  having  sustained  great  losses  were  "gen- 
erally poor; "  &  that  "  their  fishing  &  lumber  their  chiefest  trade  &  support,  &  that  wholly  supplied 
by  Connecticut,  from  whence  all  their  wheat  &  much  oiher  grain  &  provisions,  &  without  it  can- 
not maintain  their  fishery  &  trade." 


234  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [Z687 

reduced  to  one  penny,  was  found  insufficient  to  meet  the  debts  of  the 
colony,  and  the  expenses  of  presenting  their  cause  in  England. 

Governor  Treat  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  then  the 
British  Secretary  of  State,  informing  him  that  the  General  Court  of  Con- 
necticut had  sent  several  addresses  to  the  king  ;  explaining  that  the  two 
quo  warrantos  were  served  upon  them  after  the  time  set  for  their  appear- 
ance in  England  ;  and  the  last  one  came  too  late  in  the  winter  for  them  to 
make  returns  ;  that  they  had  appointed  Mr.  William  Whiting  their  attor- 
ney, to  present  their  address  to  the  king,  that  they  "  might  not  be  pro- 
ceeded against  as  outlaws,"  and  be  obliged  to  forfeit  their  liberties  and 
privileges.  He  assured  the  secretary  "  that  the  planters  of  Connecticut 
were  his  Majesty's  royal  subjects,  heartily  desiring  to  continue  in  the  same 
stations  they  had  occupied,  but,  if  his  Majesty  had  otherwise  disposed  of 
them,  they  should  feel  it  their  duty  to  submit  to  his  royal  command  ;  and 
if  they  were  to  be  joined  to  the  other  colonies  and  provinces,  under  Sir 
Edmund  Andros,  it  would  be  more  pleasant  for  them  than  with  any  other 
of  the  provinces."  "* 

The  same  day  the  Assembly  met.  Governor  Andros  addressed  another 
letter  to  Governor  Treat  and  the  council,  demanding  the  surrender  of  their 
charter,  to  which  he  received  in  reply  so  little  satisfaction,  that  he  wrote 
again  on  the  28th  of  February,  informing  them  that  all  the  other  New 
England  colonies  had  surrendered  their  charters  but  Connecticut,  which  still 
remained  "  obstinate  &  adverse  to  his  Majestie's  service,"  thereby 
hazarding  the  advantages  they  might  otherwise  gain.  Captain  Nicholson, 
who  had  accompanied  Andros  from  England  to  Boston,  was  made  the 
bearer  of  this  letter  to  Connecticut.  The  construction  put  upon  this 
letter  by  the  celebrated  Chalmers  was,  that  it  showed,  "  not  only  the  art 
of  that  body,  but  the  slight  ground  on  which  that  paper  was  construed  to  con- 
tain a  surrender  of  their  charter."  Again  a  special  General  Court  was  con- 
vened at  Hartford  on  the  3<Dth  of  March;  and  on  the  same  day  Captain 
Nicholson  was  made  the  bearer  of  a  brief  reply  to  Andros'  letter,  in  which 
the  Governor  and  company  cf  Connecticut  return  their  hearty  thanks  to 
him  for  his  love  and  care  for  them  ;  "but  without  desiring  to  give  offense, 
having  submitted  to  be  guided  &  disposed  of  by  his  majesty,  &  not  yet 
having  received  any  reply  directly  from  him,"  they  begged  leave  to  request 
"that  a  good  &  an  amicable  correspondence  might  be  continued  between 
him  &  their  colony,  until  his  majestie's  pleasure  should  be  made  known." 

.  .  "  And  then,  wJicn  we  are  commanded  by  his  Majestie  to  surcndcr  our- 
s elves  to  your  excellencies  government,  &  to  be  united  to  our  neighbors  in 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  377-378. 


16871  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  235 

government,  we  shall  be  as  hyall  &  dutifull  as  any  we  hope,  &  as  readily 
submit  ourselves  to  your  excellency" 

Unmoved  by  any  threat  or  art  of  persuasion  from  Andros,  the  Con- 
necticut planters  had  their  annual  election  in  May.  Governor  Treat  was 
re-elected  and  also  Deputy-governor  James  Bishop.  Major  Gold's  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  assistants.  John  Wheeler  and  John  Burr  were 
chosen  deputies,  and  Jehu  and  John  Burr  commissioners  for  Fairfield.* 

It  was  a  time  of  great  distress,  doubt  and  perplexity  to  know  how  to 
act,  or  upon  whom  to  rely.  Not  a  few  of  the  leading  men  were  strongly 
in  favor  of  an  English  governor.  Among  the  latter  were  Edward  Palmes, 
of  New  London,  William  Rosewell,  of  Brandford,  and  the  learned  Rev. 
Gershom  Bulkley,  of  Wethersfield.  The  latter  afterwards  distinguished 
himself  by  writing  a  history  of  the  miseries  of  Connecticut,  by  and  under 
an  "Usurped  &  Arbitrary  Power,"  which  he  entitled  "Will  and  Doom."f 
Many  of  the  ablest  and  wisest  men  in  the  colony  feared  that  Andros'  threats 
would  be  carried  out,  and  their  estates  would  be  confiscated.  All  eagerly 
looked  for  some  reply  to  the  petition  of  the  General  Assembly  to  the  king, 
in-  whose  weak,  vacillating  will  they  had  but  little  confidence.  It  was  a 
terrible  crisis  for  the  brave  forefathers  of  Connecticut  ;  which  they  awaited 
with  the  patience  and  fortitude  of  heroes. 

Mr.  Whiting  made  every  effort  to  sustain  the  cause  in  England;  but 
thus  far  with  little  avail.  Again  the  affairs  of  the  colony  were  left  in  the 
hands  of  the  governor  or  deputy-governor,  and  any  six  of  the  assistants 
until  the  October  term.  The  last  Wednesday  in  May  w7as  appointed  a  day  of 
public  fasting  and  prayer.  Little  business  occupied  the  court  at  this  crisis  of 
doubt,  consternation  and  gloom.  A  few  matters  relating  to  Fairfield  were 
brought  forward.  Major  Gold  petitioned  the  Assembly  that  a  neck  of  land  in 
the  west  part  of  Danbury,  adjoining  the  land  laid  out  to  him  at  Umpewage, 
should  be  added  to  his  former  grant,  which  petition  was  granted,  provided 
the  land  did  not  exceed  five  hundred  acres.  To  this  one  hundred  more  acres 
were  added  a  few  days  after.  \  Simon  Couch,  of  Bankside,  petitioned  that 

*  The  names  of  John  Wheeler  and  John  Burr  are  not  recorded  in  the  May  list  of  deputies,  hut 
may  be  found  in  the  October  list  marked  absent. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  III.,  239. 

•j-The  Rev.  Gershom  Bulkley  was  never  admitted  a  freeman  of  the  Connecticut  colony,  and  the 
commission  he  received  from  Andros  was  made  null  and  void  by  the  revolution.  He  is  described 
as  having  been  ''overweening,  self-important,  obstinate  in  adherence  to  his  opinions  or  prejudices, 
a  litigious  spirit,  and  the  peculiarities  of  his  political  creed  detracted  from  his  usefulness,  and 
kept  him  almost  continually  at  strife  with  his  neighbors  or  with  the  government  of  the  colony." 
—Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  III.,  389. 

\  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  III..  231-235.  A  patent  of  this  land  was  granted  Major  Gold,  May  20, 
1687.  Col.  Rec.  Deeds,  &c.,  II.,  182. 


236  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1687 

his  right  in  the  land  of  his  father-in-law,  Francis  Andrews,  at  or  near 
Bankside,  be  granted  him,  according  to  the  agreement  made  at  the  time  of 
union  between  Fairfield  and  the  Bankside  planters.  The  court  granted 
his  petition,  and  ordered  that  Mr.  John  Burr  and  the  selectmen  of  the 
town  should,  forthwith  set  out  to  each  planter  of  Bankside  his  proportion 
of  land,  by  virtue  of  their  agreement  with  the  town  of  Fairfield  in  1666. 
Among  the  town  votes  of  January  Qth,  of  this  year,  is  the  following  :  "  For 
good  considerations  moving  ym,  ye  town  orders  one  acre  &  a  half  of  land  near 
ye  east  farms,  for  any  of  ye  inhabitants  to  bury  their  dead  in,  as  occasion  shall 
be."  John  Burr,  of  Fairfield,  and  Lieutenant  Mathew  Sherwood,  of 
Pequonnock,  were  appointed  to  lay  it  out.  This  burial  place,  has  ever 
since  been  known  as  the  old  Strat field  or  Pequonnock  grave  yard.  It  is 
situated  on  the  king's  highway,  but  a  short  distance  north  of  Mountain 
Grove  cemetery,  adjoining  the  military  green  of  the  early  settlement. 

Again  the  disputed  boundary  line  between  Norwalk  and  Fairfield  was 
brought  forward.  The  court  decided  that  a  white  oak  tree,  east  of  the 
deceased  Daniel  Frost's  house  at  Bankside,  was  the  early  west  bounds  of 
Fairfield,  and  that  a  just  mile  west  of  the  said  white  oak  tree  should  be 
their  west  or  head  line,  to  run  up  to  the  Stamford  path,  and  then  north- 
ward according  to  the  former  grant  of  the  court  :  "  &  tJie  tozvn  of  Fairfield 
is  to  liave  all  tJic  lands  soiitkward  of  this  line  from  Standford  patJi  cast  of 
Saugatuck  river"  Two  hundred  acres  of  land  were  granted  to  John 
Burr. "::~  Lieutenants  Samuel  Morehousc  and  Nathaniel  Seely  were 
appointed  to  lay  out  this  grant  ;  and  also  one  hundred  acres  to  John  Bell 
of  Stamford,  f  In  order  to  avoid  having  their  timber  lands  impoverished 
by  Andros,  a  law  was  passed,  that  no  more  timber  should  be  sent  out  of 
the  colony  without  a  license  from  the  towns  in  which  it  was  cut,  under 
a  penalty  of  forfeiting  said  timber.  The  captains  of  the  vessels  were 
forbidden  to  receive  it  without  a  license,  under  a  penalty  of  forty  shillings 
for  every  breach  of  this  law.  Tanners  were  also  forbidden  to  cut  down 
trees  for  bark,  without  a  license  from  the  towns  in  which  they  lived, 
under  a  penalty  of  five  shillings  for  every  barked  tree. 

From  the  following  vote,  it  is  clearly  to  be  seen  that  the  politic  course 
pursued  by  Major  Gold  and  the  town  deputies,  in  agreeing  to  yield  to  the 

*"  Laid  out  with  other  grants  to  Jehue  &  John  Burr,  April  1693,  within  a  tract  of  two  square 
miles,  purchased  by  them  of  the  Indian  proprietors  upon  the  Wemesheage  (Wemesseage)  brook  ;  & 
patented  to  Daniel  &  Samuel  Burr  May  1717." — Col.  Rec.  of  Deeds,  &c.,  III.,  229-233. 

f  "  This  grant  to  Lieut.  Jonathan  Bell  of  Stamford,  was  assigned,  by  his  sons,  Jonathan,  Abra- 
ham &  John,  April  17:2  to  John  Edwards  &  Samuel  Couch  of  Fairfield, — to  whom  it  was  laid  out, 
on  the  west  side  of  Capt.  Osborn's  ridge,"  between  Fairfield  and  Danbury,  and  patented,  Oct., 
1716. 


1687]  THE  DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH   REVOLUTION  237 

king's  commands  to  resign  their  charter  if  absolute  necessity  required,  and 
to  be  annexed  to  New  York,  was  made  a  matter  of  grave  offense : 

"  The  town  of  Fairfield  do  hereby  at  a  town  meeting  held  this  clay,  being  ye  23.  of  May 
1687,  do  withdraw  ye  power  given  unto  Major  Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  Jehu  Burr  £  Lieut.  John 
Banks  in  reference  to  their  defending  sd.  Fairfield's  title  to  ye  land  within  ye  town  bounds 
against  any,  they  not  being  inhabitants  of  ye  town;  &  do  thereby  discharge  them 
from  ye  sd.  power  &  trust  given  or  committed  to  sd.  Nathan  Gold,  Jehu  &  John,  by  an 
order  of  said  Fairfield  of  May  1683."* 

The  receipt  of  a  letter  from  William  Whiting  of  London,  caused  Gov- 
ernor Treat  to  summon  a  General  Court,  to  be  held  at  Hartford  on  the 
I5th  of  June.  Neither  Major  Gold's,  John  Wheeler's,  nor  John  Burr's 
name  appears  on  the  list  of  those  present.  Mr.  Whiting's  letter  was 
laid  before  the  Assembly.  He  had  given  the  letter  addressed  by  the 
Assembly  to  Lord  Sunderland  immediately  after  its  reception,  the  con- 
tents of  which  were  by  his  lordship  communicated  to  the  Lords  of  the 
Committee  for  Foreign  Plantations,  and  by  them  to  his  Majesty  ;  but  he 
had  not  learned  of  his  decision,  Sir  Edmund  Andros  not  yet  having  made 
any  return  of  the  Connecticut  quo  warrantos,  which  it  was  expected  he 
would  do  by  the  next  ship  from  New  England.  Mr.  Whiting  assured  the 
Assembly  he  had  taken  care  that  he  should  be  notified  if  any  process  was 
made;  but  it  was  his  opinion  that,  their  case  would  be  lost,  as  the  court 
was  at  Windsor,  and  but  little  could  be  known  of  what  proceedings  were 
taking  place  there. 

With  great  opposition  on  the  part  of  many  in  the  colony,  the  Assembly 
did  not  consider  themselves  able  to  raise  money  to  send  an  agent  to  Eng- 
land, which  Mr.  Whiting  had  recommended  them  to  do  ;  but  having  full 
confidence  in  his  ability,  ordered  that  he  should  be  notified  by  letter  in  the 
name  of  the  governor,  deputy-governor  and  assistants  of  their  gratitude 
for  his- past  services  in  their  behalf,  and  request  him  to  continue  to  defend 
their  interests.  A  reasonable  satisfaction  was  voted  for  his  services.  Sev- 
eral of  the  Assembly  requested  to  see  the  Charter  of  Connecticut.  Secre- 
tary Allyn  sent  for  it,  and  exhibited  it  to  those  present  ;  "&  the  governor 
bid  him  put  it  into  the  box  again,  &  lay  it  upon  the  table,  &  leave  the 
key  in  the  box,  which  he  did  forthwith."  This  remarkable  entry  in  the 
colony  records,  gives  an  impression  that  some  of  the  members  of  the  court 
questioned  whether  the  charter  had  not  already  been  given  up,  but  the 
singular  order  of  Governor  Treat  gives  a  clue  to  the  surmise  that  some 
scheme  was  on  foot  for  its  preservation,  even  if  it  was  "  left  on  the  table 
with  the  key  in  the  box." 

*  Fairfield  Letter  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  79. 


238  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1687 

Mr.  Whiting  reported  through  Secretary  Allyn,  by  a  letter  dated  June 
I4th,  that  thus  far  no  information  had  at  that  date  been  filed  in  the  court 
against  them,  although,  on  the  nth  instant  a  rule  was  passed,  that  they 
should  appear  on  the  following  day  (being  the  last  day  of  that  term  of 
court)  for  judgment  against  them.  On  the  I4th  of  August  he  wrote,  that 
on  the  day  set  for  their  appearance,  he  gave  a  warrant  of  attorney  to  one 
of  the  clerks  of  the  crown  office  to  appear  in  their  behalf,  which  he 
signified  to  his  Majesty's  officer  of  the  court,  "  but  no  information  either 
then  or  since  having  been  given  against  the  colony,  the  case  stood  as 
it  did."  Again,  on  the  2ist  of  September  he  wrote,  that  as  yet  no  infor- 
mation had  been  given  against  them  ;  but  urged  that  money  should  be 
immediately  sent  out  to  defend  their  charter,  as  the  forty  pounds  already 
sent  him  was  well  nigh  exhausted.  The  General  Assembly  met,  as  usual, 
on  the  1 3th  of  October.  Major  Gold,  and  John  Burr  did  not  appear,  having 
been  stripped  of  their  offices  by  their  fellow-townsmen  ;  and  they  evi- 
dently were  not  willing  to  seem  to  oppose  the  demands  of  the  quo  war- 
rantos. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Assembly  by  Samuel  Hayes  of  Nor- 
walk,  in  behalf  of  Thomas  Fitch,  Thomas  Bennydick,  and  John  and  Jehu 
Burr,  representing  that  as  Pcquiage  contained  twenty  families,  and  others 
were  expected  soon  to  settle  there,  it  should  be  constituted  a  town, 
and  named  Swamfield  ;  but  the  court  gave  it  the  name  of  Danbury.* 
The  Assembly  proceeded  in  its  regular  routine  of  business  until  about 
the  last  of  October,  when  it  was  speedily  interrupted  by  the  appearance 
of  Governor  Andros  among  them,  with  his  suit  and  sixty  regular  troops. 
His  coining  was  not  unexpected,  as  he  had  notified  Governor  Treat  on  the 
22O1,  that  having  recently  received  orders  from  his  Majesty  to  annex  Con- 
necticut to  his  government,  he  should  either  send  or  come  himself  to 
Hartford  by  the  end  of  the  following  week.f 

A  literal  construction  had  been  placed  upon  the  letter  of  the  Assembly, 

*  Probably  named  after  a  village  in  Essex,  five  miles  from  Chelmsford. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn., 
III.,  240. 

f  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  III.,  387.— Gershom  Bulkley  in  his  "  WILL  &  DOOM"  describes 
Andros's  journey  to  Hartford  as  one  of  triumph,  having  been  conducted  through  the  town  with  the 
respect  and  welcome  congratulations  of  the  populace.  That  he  was  conducted  from  the  Rocky 
Hill  ferry  through  Wethersfield  to  Hartford  by  the  Hartford  county  troops,  where  the  train  bands 
of  several  towns,  aware  of  his  coming,  had  united  to  pay  him  welcome.  That  he  was  received 
with  courtesy  by  Governor  Treat  and  the  assistants  and  deputies  of  the  court,  and  conducted  to 
the  governor's  chair,  with  the  honor  due  to  his  office. 

All  this  may  have  been  true  ;  but  it  was  a  time  when  the  magistrates  of  Connecticut  united 
political  tact  with  wisdom  and  courtesy.  The  wisdom  of  submission  with  them  "became  the 
better  part  of  valor."  To  appear  "as  wise  as  serpents  &  as  harmless  as  doves,"  was  fully  exemplified. 


168;]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE    ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  239 

addressed  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland  on  the  26th  of  January,  that  in  case 
his  Majesty  should  not  see  fit  to  continue  Connecticut  a  separate  colony, 
but  join  it  with  the  other  colonies  and  provinces  under  Sir  Edmund  An- 
dros,  "  it  would  be  more  pleasant  than  to  be  joined  with  any  other  prov- 
ince." As  soon  as  the  letter  was  received  at  Whitehall,  "  the  King  readily 
granted  their  request  of  being  annexed  to  the  Bay"  and  at  the  very  moment, 
when  they  hoped  some  check  would  be  given  to  the  intrigues  of  Andros 
and  Randolph,  through  the  timely  interference  of  their  agent  William 
Whiting,  their  own  words  were  turned  against  them,  and  construed  into 
"resignation  of  their  charter  by  their  own  act."*  The  king  pursued  his 
quo  warranto  no  farther,  but  commissioned  Andros  to  take  upon  him  the 
government  of  Connecticut. 

It  was  no  doubt  an  hour  of  great  triumph,  when  Andros  found  himself 
governor  of  a  colony  he  had  so  many  years  endeavored  to  control  ;  and 
with  its  annexation  to  the  other  colonies,  he  had  reason  to  dream  of 
almost  unlimited  wealth  and  power.  Standing  in  the  midst  of  the  Assem- 
bly, surrounded  by  his  suit,  he  demanded  of  Governor  Treat  the  sur- 
render of  the  charter  of  Connecticut,  and  pronounced  the  government  to 
be  dissolved. 

According  to  tradition,  Governor  Treat,  in  a  most  eloquent  manner, 
plead  the  cause  of  the  Connecticut  planters,  in  defense  of  their  charter 
and  the  privileges  it  conveyed  to  them.  He  reminded  Andros  of  the 
hardships  they  had  endured  in  planting  the  colony  ;  of  the  expense  they 
had  incurred  in  purchasing  their  patent  and  their  lands  of  the  natives  ;  of 
the  blood  and  pecuniary  losses  they  had  sustained  in  subduing  both  for- 
eign and  savage  foes  ;  of  his  own  personal  exposure  ;  "  &  that  it  was  like 
giving  up  his  life,  now  to  surrender  the  patent  &  privileges  so  dearly 
bought  &  so  long  enjoyed." 

As  the  day  waned  and  evening  approached,  the  court  room  was  filled 
with  men  resolved  upon  almost  any  daring  deed.  Outside  were  stationed 
the  troops  of  Andros,  and  a  multitude  of  eager,  earnest  men  and  women 
awaited  the  issue  of  the  debate  within.  The  night  closed  in  upon  the 
crowded  listeners,  and  the  candles  were  lighted  upon  the  council  table, 
revealing  such  firmness  of  expression  upon  the  furrowed,  weather-beaten 
faces  of  the  veteran  forefathers  of  Connecticut,  as  must  have  daunted  any 
one  capable  of  appreciating  the  feelings  of  heroes  and  patriots  under  this 
terrible  ordeal. 

Unmoved,  Andros  awaited  the  surrender  of  the  charter,  which  was  most 
reluctantly  brought  in  and  laid  upon  the  table  before  him  and  the  assem- 

*  Gershom  Bulkley's  Will  and  Doom. 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1687 

bled  spectators.  In  an  instant  the  candles  were  extinguished  ;  but  all  was 
orderly  and  silent  in  the  house  for  some  minutes.  When  the  candles  were 
relighted,  it  was  discovered  that  the  coveted  charter  was  gone,  and  no 
one  present  could  tell  who  had  spirited  it  away.  The  memorable  charter 
of  King  Charles  of  happy  memory,  however,  found  a  safer  place  for  its 
preservation,  without  lock  or  key,  in  the  capacious  hollow  of  the  grand 
old  Charter  Oak  of  Hartford.* 

The  next  morning  Andros  assumed  the  control  of  the  government  of 
the  colony.  The  record  of  this  epoch  in  the  history  of  Connecticut  is 
preserved  by  Secretary  John  Allyn  in  the  following  few  words  : 

* 

"His  Excellency  Sr.  Edmond  Andross  Kn',  Capt.  Generall  &  GoV  of  his  Maties  Terito- 

rie  &  Dominion  in  New  England,  by  order  from  his  Matie  James  the  Second,  King-  of 
England,  Scotland,  France  &  Ireland,  the  31  of  October,  1687,  took  into  his  hands  the 
Government  of  this  colony  of  Conecticott,  it  being  by  his  Matie  annexed  to  the  Massachu- 
setts &  other  colonys  under  his  Excelencies  Government.  FINIS."  f 

Occupying  the  Governor's  chair,  Andros  ordered  his  commission  from 
the  king  to  be  read.  He  informed  Governor  Treat  and  Secretary  John 
Allyn,  it  was  his  Majesty's  pleasure  that  they  should  be  members  of  his 
council,  and  called  upon  them  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  which  was 
administered  before  him.  He  then  proceeded  to  organize  courts  of  judi- 
cature in  the  several  counties,  making  those  who  had  occupied  the  offices 
of  governor,  deputy-governor  and  assistants,  judges  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  or  justices  qf  the  peace.  He  appointed  sheriffs  and  constables 
in  the  several  counties,  and  caused  all  the  officers  under  him  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  after  the  laws  and  customs  of  England.  On  the  /th  of 
November  he  commissioned  Governor  Treat  colonel  of  the  militia  and 
captain  of  the  cavalry  of  the  county  of  New  Haven. 

Governor  Joseph  Dudley,  of  New  York,  was  appointed  chief  justice  of 
New  England,  and  William  Stoughton  and  Peter  Bulkley  associate  judges. 
George  Farewell,  of  New  York,  was  made  attorney-general,  and  John 
West,  of  Boston,  secretary.  Gershom  Bulkley  was  made  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  Major  Gold  was  made  a  judge  of  the  common  pleas  for  the  county 
of  Fairfield.  John  Perry,  of  Fail-field,  was  appointed  postman  between 

*  Captain  Wadsworth  having  seized  the  charter,  secreted  it  in  the  hollow  of  an  oak  tree  in  front 
of  the  house  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Willyis,  of  Hartford,  which  from  this  circumstance  was  called 
the  Charter  Oak. 

f  Col.  Rec.  of  Conn  ,  Vol.  III.,  248.  The  common  seal  of  the  colony  was  delivered  up  to 
Andros  by  Secretary  Allyn,  who  afterward  used  the  great  seal,  which  had  been  appointed  for  his 
administration,  and  which  bore  the  remarkable  motto,  numquam  libertas  gratias  extat. 


1687]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  24! 

Boston,  Fairfield   and  Stamford,  to  carry  the  mail  once  a  month   in  the 
winter,  and  every  three  weeks  in  the  summer,  or  oftener  if  required. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1687,  Governor  Andros,  who  had  formally 
taken  possession  of  the  government  of  the  colony,  appointed  Thursday, 
the  1st  of  December,  "  to  be  a  public  day  of  praise  &  thanksgiving  to 
Almighty  God  "  throughout  New  England,  with  inclosed  orders  for  the 
same,  and  the  king's  "  Declaration  for  Liberty  of  Conscience "  (April, 
1687),  to  all.  Andros  had  not  only  proclaimed  himself  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  England,  but  had  at  once,  upon  his  assuming  the  duties  of  a 
governor  over  the  colonies,  made  preparations  to  erect  a  church  in  Boston, 
to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  The  church 
he  erected  was  called  the  King's  Chapel,  and  is  to  the  present  day  one  of 
the  chief  noticeable  landmarks  of  that  city. 

From  this  date  Episcopacy  may  be  said  to  have  had  its  rise  in  New 
England,  although  it  was  bitterly  opposed  in  all  the  New  England  colo- 
nies ;  and  while  many  efforts  before  this  and  afterwards  were  made  by 
individuals  to  worship  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences, 
it  was  not  until  the  eighteenth  century  opened  that  any  successful  attempt 
was  made  to  hold  the  services  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Fairfield  and 
the  neighboring  towns. 

At  the  same  time  Andros  published  an  act  for  enforcing  the  former 
laws  made  by  the  governor  and  council  of  Connecticut,  with  other  regula- 
tions. He  also  ordered  that  the  semi-annual  general  courts  should  be 
held,  one  at  New  Haven  and  the  other  at  Hartford ;. and  that  the  magis- 
trates of  New  Hampshire  should  attend  the  latter.  The  quarterly  courts 
for  the  county  of  Fairfield  were  appointed  to  be  held  at  Fairfield  on  the 
third  Wednesday  in  March,  June,  September  and  December,  and  the 
inferior  court  of  pleas,  soon  after  the  regular  county  courts  had  ended.  The 
superior  court  for  the  counties  of  Fairfield  and  New  Haven  was  to  be 
held  at  New  Haven  twice  every  year,  and  their  sheriffs  were  ordered  to 
send  their  deputies  or  under-sheriffs  to  attend  such  courts,  whose  duty  was 
to  make  return  of  writs,  to  summon  a  jury  or  juries  for  cases  pending. 
The  former  restriction  of  limiting  the  inferior  courts  of  common  pleas  of 
the  counties  to  cases  under  forty  pounds  with  costs,  was  removed  ;  and  it 
was  made  legal  for  them  to  decide  "  all  causes  &  cases  wherein  titles  of 
lands  were  not  concerned,  to  any  sum  or  value  ;  with  liberty  of  appeal  to 
the  superior  courts  by  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  to  be  issued  under  a 
special  bail,  out  of  the  clerk's  office  of  the  superior  court."  Justices  of  the 
peace  were  allowed  to  decide  all  cases  under  forty  shillings.  A  court  of 
chancery  was  also  instituted,  subject  to  the  laws  of  England.  The  pro- 
16 


242  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1687 

bating  of  wills  was  from  henceforth  to  be  granted  only  by  the  governor,  or 
such  persons  as  he  commissioned  for  that  purpose,  after  being  proved  in 
the  remote  counties  from  Boston  in  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  certi- 
fied at  the  secretary's  office  at  Boston.  Fifty  shillings  was  exacted  for 
each  will  probated.  All  males  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  except  his 
Majesty's  council,  owning  houses,  cultivated  and  broken  lands,  or  other 
property,  "at  sea  or  on  shore,"  were  taxed  at  the  rate  of  one  shilling  eight 
pence  a  head  for  the  county  tax ;  and  all  estates,  both  real  and  per- 
sonal, at  the  rate  of  one  penny  for  every  twenty  shillings.  For  regulating 
taxes  a  certain  value  was  placed  upon  horses  and  all  kinds  of  cattle,  sheep, 
hogs,  grain,  etc.  Fish,  sheep's  wool,  cotton  wool  and  salt,  were  alone 
exempt.  Workmen,  tradesmen,  laborers,  and  in  fact  all  classes  and  con- 
ditions of  men,  were  taxed.  Paid  servants  were  taxed,  and  masters  of 
families  were  taxed  for  unpaid  servants.  Those  not  able  to  meet  these 
demands  were  ordered  sent  to  the  common  jail  until  their  case  could  be 
laid  before  the  next  court  of  sessions.  Even  strangers,  and  vessels  coming 
into  port  were  rated.  All  kinds  of  foreign  and  domestic  liquor,  wine,  ale, 
and  cider  were  heavily  taxed.  Peddlers  were  forbidden  to  sell  goods  from 
town  to  town  under  a  penalty  of  ten  pounds,  and  be  sent  from  constable  to 
constable  until  they  reached  the  town  to  which  they  belonged.  The  elder 
brother  of  a  family,  according  to  the  custom  in  England,  was  made  the 
chief  heir  in  line  of  descent,  and  also  heir  of  the  entire  estate  of  a  deceased 
brother  to  the  exclusion  of  younger  brothers.  An  act  for  the  suppression 
of  piracy  was  made.  The  ratification  of  marriage  was  restricted  to  civil 
magistrates,  and  bonds,  and  sureties  exacted  by  the  governor.  The  usual 
town  tax  for  the  support  of  ministers  was  abolished,  and  no  one  allowed 
to  give  "  even  two  pence  to  a  non-conformist,  under  threats  of  punish- 
ment ;  &  if  this  law  was  not  complied  with  they  were  informed  that 
their  meeting  houses  should  be  taken  from  them."  *  Printing  presses 
were  forbidden,  except  by  special  license. 

Fairfield  and  the  towns  in  the  western  part  of  Connecticut  experienced 
serious  alarm  at  this  time,  lest  a  rupture  with  the  French  Canadians  should 
involve  them  in  another  Indian  war.  The  French  had  threatened  to 
attack  the  Iroquois  Indians,  and  a  party  of  Mohicans  and  Mohawks  exas- 
perated against  them  attacked  Fort  Chambly  and  killed  several  men, 
burned  houses,  and  carried  away  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  Governor 
Dongan  called  upon  Andros  to  assist  in  the  defense  of  Albany.  Andros 
immediately  ordered  two  hundred  foot  soldiers  and  fifty  troopers  to  be 
raised  out  of  the  western  part  of  Connecticut,  and  dispatched  to  Albany 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I,  392. 


X688]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  243 

by  the  end  of  April.     The  officers  were  to  be  provided  with  money  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  expedition. 

Governor  Talcott  waived  the  effort  to  raise  either  troops  or  money  for 
the  time  being;  but  in  a  most  gracious  manner  suggested  that  it  might  be 
a  good  expedient  for  him  to  send  advice  to  Governor  Dongan,  to  move 
the  French  general  to  a  cessation  of  arms,  and  so  gain  a  truce  of  eight  or 
nine  months,  while  dispatches  were  sent  to  England  and  France  for  their 
decision;  that  their  subjects  in  America  might  not  be  plunged  in  a  cruel 
war  at  the  cost  of  devastated  plantations,  the  effusion  of  much  Christian 
blood,  and  the  country  brought  into  poverty,  as  in  the  late  Indian  war, 
"  for  the  sake  of  a  beaver  trade,  to  be  upheld  by  the  point  of  the  sword, 
for  the  enriching  of  a  few  mercenary  spirited  men."  Governor  Dongan 
acted  upon  this  suggestion,  and  by  his  eloquent  appeal  to  King  James,  a 
treaty  of  neutrality  was  established  with  France,  by  which  it  was  agreed 
that  all  their  colonies  in  America  should  remain  neutral  and  at  peace  with 
each  other,  even  if  a  breach  existed  between  the  two  kingdoms.  Intent 
on  securing  lands  to  their  lawful  owners  and  successors,  the  following  vote 
was  passed  at  Fan-field  : 

"  Novembr  is.t  1687.  Ye  town  of  Fairfield  this  day  voted  y*  those  of  ye  Town  y'  did 
divide  pasture,  building  &  the  Long  Lots,  Shall  be,  and  be  deemed  to  be  wth  yr  heirs  & 
lawfull  Successors,  and  those  yl  Shall  Come  in  lawfull  power  in  stead  of  them,  or  any  of 
them,  Shall  be  forever  ye  proprietors  of  all  ye  Comons  of  Fairfield  ;  y'  is  of  ye  two  half 
miles  of  Cofnon,  and  y  mile  of  comon,  &  all  other  Lands  lying  in  ye  Comon,  if  any  w* 
ever,  according  to  y*  rule  :  S?  pasture  &  building  &  long  lots  were  divided,  &  S*?  Com- 
mons are  hereby  granted  to,  and  confirmed  on  them  as  above  forever,  wth  others,  namely, 
those  y  Indifferent  men  Shall  determine  to  have  Satisfaction  for  Some  Divisions,  they  Say 
they  ought  to  have,  but  have  it  not,  and  \v*  Liberty  of  removing:  those  shall  have  y*  live 
in  ye  Town  y*  have  none,  and  cannot  otherwise  claim  any  as  yr  right,  &  any  other  dissatis- 
fied persons  in  Fairfield  on  a  Land  account  ;  &  those  persons  shall  have  so  much,  as 
those  persons  Indifferently  chose  by  ye  Town  ;  &  ye  said  persons  shall  determine  them,  or 
any  of  them  to  have  ;  which  determination  Shall  stand  good  and  be  fullfilled  by  ye  Town." 

Jehu  Burr,  Robert  Turney  and  John  Thompson  were  appointed  to 
hear  and  determine  the  cases  of  all  dissatisfied  persons  in  lands  or  com- 
mons. 

Major  Gold  and  Jehu  Burr  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and 
been  selected  among  the  official  appointments  of  Governor  Andros, 
were,  at  a  town  meeting  on  the  gth  of  January,  reinstated  as  inhabitants 
of  the  town,  and  with  John  Burr,  employed  to  defend  the  lands  belonging 
to  the  freeholders  in  a  lawful  way.  In  the  month  of  March  Governor 
Andros  issued  further  oppressive  laws.  He  appointed  an  annual  town 


244  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1688 

meeting  on  the  third  Monday  in  May,  for  the  planters  to  choose  and  nomi- 
nate select  men  or  overseers,  not  to  exceed  eight  in  number,  one  half  of 
whom  were  to  be  chosen  out  of  those  who  had  served  the  year  previous. 
They  were  also  to  nominate  commissioners.  The  duty  of  the  select  men, 
with  the  assistance  of  two  justices  of  the  peace,  was  to  number  the  poor 
of  the  town,  to  levy  a  tax  for  their  maintenance,  and  to  meet  once  a  month 
to  consider  the  best  way  to  provide  for  their  industry  and  care.  All  town 
meetings  but  the  annual  one  for  choosing  and  nominating  town  officers, 
were  strictly  forbidden.  If  any  one  appointed  a  constable,  refused  to  act 
or  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  he  was  fined  five  pounds.  Strict  military 
regulations  were  set  on  foot.  Once  every  year  each  captain  or  lieutenant 
was  required  to  send  "  a  fair  written  roll  of  their  respective  companies  and 
regiments,"  or  be  court-martialed.  The  use  of  fire-arms  was  forbidden 
after  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  unless  in  case  of  alarm,  under  severe 
punishment.  In  case  of  alarm  four  muskets  or  small  arms  were  to  be  dis- 
tinctly fired,  or  one  cannon  and  two  muskets  or  small  arms,  and  by  beat- 
ing a  drum,  when  every  soldier  was  obliged  to  be  armed  and  at  his  post, 
or  be  fined  five  pounds.  Officers  of  vessels  were  also  forbidden  to  fire 
salutes  upon  entering  any  of  the  ports. 

Notwithstanding  the  new  laws  in  regard  to  town  meetings,  on  the  6th 
of  April  the  town  ordered  that  Pauls  neck,  the  reedy  ponds  and  swamp 
lying  west  of  it,  and  the  Half  Mile  of  common,  lying  between  the  Build- 
ing Lots  "  so  called,  long  since  laid  out  ;  "  and  two  miles  and  a  half  in 
length  of  the  Mile  of  common,  should  be  forthwith  laid  out  to  the  lawful 
dividers.  If  any  others  were  admitted  to  this  dividend,  one  lot  was  to  be 
drawn  for  all  said  divisions,  to  begin  on  each  division  until  the  whole  was 
finished.  Isaac  Hall  not  having  been  allowed  his  claim  in  the  previous 
dividends,  the  town  readily  granted  him  the  same,  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  lay  out  to  him  his  just  dividends.  John  and  Jonathan  More- 
house,  John  Whitlock,  David  Whitlock,  James  Newton,  Henry  Grey  and 
Thomas  Dickinson,  were  allowed  an  interest  in  these  lands  at  the  rate  of 
twenty  pounds  estate. 

Golden-hill  having  been  claimed  by  the  Stratford  planters,  who  were 
over-eager  to  dispossess  the  Indians  of  this  reservation,  without  adhering 
to  the  agreement  made  with  Fairfield  of  May  19,  1659,  application  for 
redress  was  made  at  this  time  by  the  Indian  owners  to  Governor  Andros. 
Major  Treat  was  appointed  to  look  into  the  matter  and  report  the  true 
state  of  the  claims  of  the  English  and  Indians.  On  the  23d  of  May,  he 
reported  to  Andros,  that  the  Stratford  men  were  not  to  claim  any  of  the 
grant  secured  to  the  Golden-hill  Indians,  unless  the  said  Indians  vacated 


1688]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE    ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  245 

their  reservation  of  their  own  free  will ;  in  which  case,  the  Stratford 
planters  were  to  own  the  said  reservation,  upon  paying  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds  to  the  Fairfield  planters,  "  partly  in  line  of  their  first  title,  & 
partly  estimated  to  Stratford,  &  the  care  Fairfield  had  taken,  in  looking 
after  the  said  Indians." 

The  ambition  of  Andros  reached  its  most  sanguine  expectations  when, 
on  the  /th  of  April,  he  was  commissioned  by  King  James,  governor  of 
New  England,  New  York,  East  and  West  Jersey,  and  all  the  English 
territories  between  40°  north  latitude  to  the  river  St.  Croix,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Delaware  only  excepted.*  The  king  hoped  by  thus  uniting 
all  his  English  subjects  under  one  governor,  "  to  make  them  a  tower  of 
iron." 

The  annexation  of  Connecticut  to  the  colonies  under  Andros  in  New 
England,  was  a  keen  disappointment  to  Governor  Dongan,  who  vented 
his  mortification  upon  Governor  Treat  aad  Secretary  Allyn.  He  wrote  to 
the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  that  the  annexation  of  Connecticut,  was  "  by  ye 
fraud  of  the  Governor  &  ye  clerk  unknown  to  the  rest  of  the  General 
Court."  .  .  .  "  &  for  one  that  wishes  it  as  it  is,  there  is  a  hundred  in 
that  Colony,  that  desyres  it  were  annexed  to  ye  Government  of  New 
York."  But  the  advancement  of  Andros  over  him  as  governor  of  New 
York  he  felt  to  be  a  bitter  injustice  ;  and  although  offered  the  command 
of  a  regiment,  with  the  title  major-general  of  artillery  in  the  British  army, 
he  refused  to  accept  it,  quietly  retiring  to  his  farm,  to  await  further  devel- 
opments in  the  government  of  the  fickle  king  of  England. 

It  was  well  known  that  the  nobility  of  England  were  displeased  with 
the  oppressions,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  laid  upon  them  by  King 
James;  and  that  in  order  to  protect  their  rights,  they  were  making  secret 
overtures  to  William  of  Orange,  who  had  married  the  king's  daughter, 
Mary,  to  assume  the  reins  of  government.  King  James,  at  this  time,  was 
well  advanced  in  years,  and  the  people  were  weary  of  his  tyrannical  and 
oppressive  course.  He  was  without  a  son  to  succeed  him,  but  the  queen 
was  happily  expected  soon  to  bear  him  another  child.  So  eager  were  the 
king  and  queen,  and  the  zealous  Catholics  of  England  and  France,  that 
this  child  should  be  a  son,  that  "  Vows  were  offered  at  almost  every  shrine 
for  a  male  successor,  &  pilgrimages  undertaken."  f  On  the  iQth  of  April, 
Governor  Andros  sent  a  proclamation  from  the  king  to  Connecticut 
appointing  a  time  of  public  thanksgiving  and  prayers  for  the  queen;  and 
ordering  that  it  should  be  speedily  made  known  and  published  in  the 

*  Documents  Relating  to  the  Hist,  of  New  York,  III.,  537-549 
j-  Hume's  Hist.  Eng. 


246  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [r688 

counties  of  Hartford,  New   Haven,  and   Fairfield,  that    it  might  be   duly 
observed  and  performed.* 

With  his  enlargement  of  government,  Andros  waxed  bold  in  oppress- 
ing the  people.  He  declared  that  as  the  charters  were  either  vacated  or 
suspended,  the  title  of  the  colonists  to  their  lands  were  null  and  void  ;  and 
that  the  Indian  deeds  were  of  no  more  value  than  "  a  scratch  of  a  bear's 
paw."  The  purchasers  and  cultivators  of  the  soil,  after  fifty  or  sixty  years' 
improvement,  were  obliged  to  take  out  new  patents  for  their  estates.  For 
these,  in  some  instances,  a  fee  of  fifty  pounds  was  demanded.  Writs  of 
intrusion  were  issued  against  persons  of  prominence  "  who  would  not  sub- 
mit to  such  impositions,  &  their  lands  were  patented  to  others."  . 
"  Men  were  fined  &  imprisoned,  &  denied  the  benefit  of  the  habeas  corpus 
act.  No  person  was  suffered  to  go  out  of  the  country  without  leave  from 
the  Governor,  lest  complaint  be  carried  to  England  against  his  administra- 
tion." ..."  Confident  of  the  King's  favor,  Andros  &  his  dependents 
enriched  themselves  without  restraint.  Petitions  of  the  most  humble 
character  could  not  be  heard.  Randolph  boasted  that  they  were  as  arbi- 
trary as  the  Great  Turk."  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  shared  alike  in 
the  special  oppression  of  Andros  and  his  emissaries  ;  but  Connecticut, 
being  further  removed  from  his  seat  of  government,  did  not  suffer  as  much 
as  her  two  sister  colonies. 

Governor  Treat  and  the  other  members  of  the  council,  while  attentive 
to  Andros'  regulations,  managed  to  carry  on  affairs  in  the  old  way  as  much 
as  possible  ;  but  despondency  and  insecurity  prevailed  on  all  sides. 

On  the  2Oth  of  August,  Andros  wrote  Major  Gold  to  give  notice  to  all 
Indians  near  him  of  just  punishment  for  any  misdemeanor  ;  and  to  raise 
forces  to  protect  the  towns  and  country. 

Meanwhile,  the  celebrated  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  waiving  the  formality 
of  asking  permission  to  leave  the  country,  set  sail  for  England,  and  deliv- 
ered the  complaints  of  the  people,  which  he  carried  with  him,  into  his 
Majesty's  hands.  On  the  loth  of  June  the  queen  gave  birth  to  a  son,  who 
was  baptized  by  the  name  of  James.  The  Catholics  were  jubilant  over 
this  realization  of  their  prayers  and  pilgrimages ;  but  the  Protestants 
questioned  whether  the  babe  was  not  a  supposititious  child,  who  might  be 
educated  in  the  Roman  Catholic  religion.  Prince  William  of  Orange  sent 
over  an  envoy  to  congratulate  the  king  upon  the  birth  of  a  son,  who 
returned  with  "  entreaties  from  many  of  the  great  men  in  England  to 
assist  them  in  the  recovery  of  their  laws  &  liberties."  Encouraged  by 
these  flattering  marks  of  confidence,  Prince  William  immediately  set  on 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  443. 


i63o]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  247 

foot  an  army  of  20,000  men,  and  ordered  the  fleet  to  be  increased.  On 
the  5th  of  November,  he  landed  at  Torbay,  in  England,  and  published  a 
declaration,  in  which  he  set  forth,  "  that  from  his  near  relationship  to  the 
kingdom,  he  felt  it  was  a  duty  imposed  upon  him  to  protect  the  civil  & 
religious  liberty  of  its  people  ;  that  he  had  no  other  object  in  view  except 
to  facilitate  the  calling  of  a  free  parliament,  &  inquiring  into  the  birth  of 
the  prince  of  Wales."*  On  the  nth  of  December,  James  II.  abdicated, 
and  on  the  I3th  of  February,  William  and  Mary  of  Orange  ascended  the 
throne  of  England. 

Meanwhile  a  revolution  was  set  on  foot  in  New  England.  A  Mr. 
Winslow,  of  Virginia,  arrived  in  Boston  on  the  5th  of  April,  bringing  with 
him  a  copy  of  Prince  William's  orders  for  proclaiming  their  majesties  in 
the  several  plantations.  Governor  Andros  was  so  enraged  and  alarmed  at 
the  turn  of  events  in  the  mother  country,  that  he  caused  Mr.  Winslow  to 
be  arrested  and  sent  to  jail  for  bringing  a  traitorous  libel  into  the  country. 
The  troops  and  militia  were  called  out  to  prevent  the  landing  of  any  forces 
under  Prince  William  within  his  jurisdiction.  Among  the  people  generally 
the  wildest  enthusiasm  prevailed.  The  hope  of  liberty  from  the  oppressions 
of  Andros  and  his  council  kindled  a  fire  of  revolt,  and  on  the  i8th  of 
April  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  the  neighboring  towns  rose  in  arms, 
made  themselves  masters  of  the  castle,  seized  Andros  and  his  council,  and 
reinstated  the  former  governor  and  council. 

Emboldened  by  the  course  pursued  by  Massachusetts,  the  magistrates 
of  Connecticut  assembled  at  Hartford  on  the  Qth  of  May,  and  reorganized 
the  General  Assembly  of  1687.  Governor  Treat  once  more  occupied  the 
governor's  chair.  Deputy-governor  James  Bishop,  Assistant  Major  Gold, 
Deputies  John  Burr  and  John  Wheeler  of  Fairfield,  and  all  the  other 
members  of  the  court  were  present,  'with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  who 
had  died.  Immediately  after  opening  the  court,  the  following  resolution 
was  passed  : 

"  For  the  present  peace  &  safety  of  this  part  of  New  England,  called  Conecticutt,  the 
necessity  of  the  circumstances  it  is  now  under  so  requireing,  it  was  voted  by  the  Freemen 
that  they  would  re-establish  the  Government  as  it  was  before,  &  at  the  time  when  Sr 
Edmond  Androsse  tooke  the  Government,  &  so  to  have  it  proceed  as  it  did  before  that  time, 
according  to  charter,  engageing  themselves  to  submit  to  it  accordingly,  untill  there  shall  be 
a  legall  establishment  setled  amongst  vs. 

Whereas  this  Court  hath  been  interupted  in  the  management  of  the  Government  in  this 
Colony  of  Conecticutt,  for  neer  eighteen  months  past,  &  or  lawes  &  courts  have  been  dis- 
used ;  that  there  may  no  damage  accrue  to  the  public  hereby,  It  is  now  enacted,  ordered 

*  Hume's  Hist,  of  England. 


248  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1689 

&  declared,  that  all  the  lawes  of  this  Colony  formerly  made,  according  to  Charter,  & 
courts  constituted  in  this  Collony  for  administration  of  justice,  as  they  were  before  the  late 
interuption,  shall  be  of  full  force  &  vertue  for  the  future,  &  till  this  Court  shall  see  cause 
to  make  farther  &  other  alteration  &  provission  according  to  charter.  And  this  Court  doe 
farther  order,  enact  &  declare,  that  all  the  present  millitary  officers  throughout  this  Colony 
are  hereby  continued  &  established  in  their  respective  offices  according  to  law,  untill 
there  shall  be  farther  order  ;  &  all  the  souldiers  in  this  Colony  are  hereby  required  to  be 
obedient  to  theire  respective  officers,  &  to  attend  accordingly;  &  if  there  be  any  vacancies 
or  want  of  any  officers  in  any  Band,  or  they  be  dissattisfyed  with  there  present  officers, 
they  may  nominate  such  others  as  they  judg  suitable  in  their  places,  at  the  next  session  of 
this  Court,  who  may  receive  such  establishment  as  shall  be  judged  necessary."  * 

It  was  further  voted,  "  that  in  case  any  occasion  should  come  on  in 
reference  to  our  charter  or  government,  it  is  their  desire  that  the  governor 
would  call  the  General  Court  to  consider  &  determine  what  is  necessary  to 
be  done."  Repairs  were  ordered  to  be  made  upon  the  fort  at  Saybrook, 
and  that  it  should  be  stocked  with  ammunition  "  to  be  kept  in  readiness  to 
defend  the  country."  John  and  Jehu  Burr  were  appointed  justices  of  the 
peace  for  Fairfield.  The  fourth  Wednesday  in  May  was  appointed  a  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer  throughout  the  colony. 

A  ship  from  England  arrived  at  Boston  on  the  26th  of  May,  bringing 
the  glad  tidings  that  William  and  Mary  had  been  proclaimed  king  and 
queen  of  England.  The  news  soon  reached  Connecticut.  Governor 
Treat  called  a  special  Assembly  on  the  13  of  June  at  Hartford;  and  on 
the  same  day  William  and  Mary,  Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange,  were  pro- 
claimed with  great  ceremony  and  joy.  Orders  were  given  that  they  should 
be  proclaimed  at  Fairfield,  and  in  all  the  county  towns  in  the  colony. 
Heralds  on  horseback  started  out  from  Hartford  at  Gilpin  speed,  announc- 
ing their  approach  to  every  town  with  jubilant  trumpet  notes  ;  and  rushed 
through  the  streets  proclaiming  the  welcome  news.  Men,  women  and 
children  with  tears,  laughter  and  hearts  filled  with  joy,  caught  up  the  her- 
ald's stentorian  tones,  and  shouted  the  happy  news.  Bonfires,  ringing  of 
bells,  firing  of  cannons,  merry-making  and  feasting,  filled  the  air  with 
cheerfulness.  Since  the  settlement  of  New  England,  such  joy  had  never 
been  known  in  the  plantations.  Their  short  term  of  oppression  had  ended, 
and  the  streets  and  houses  resounded  with  merriment  and  exultation. 

An  address  which  had  been  prepared  to  send  to  William  and  Mary, 
was  read  to  the  General  Assembly,  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  signed  by 
the  Governor  and  Secretary,  in  the  name  of  the  General  Court.  In  this 
address  their  most  heartfelt  gratitude  to  the  King  of  kings,  and  a  loyal 
spirit  to  William  and  Mary  were  thus  expressed  : 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  III.,  250-252. 


1689]  THE   DECADE   OF   THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  249 

"  Great Sr;  Great  was  that  day  when  ye  Lord  who  sitteth  upon  ye  floods.  &  sitteth  King 
forever,  did  divide  his  &  your  adversaries  from  one  another,  like  ye  waters  of  Jordan 
forced  to  stand  upon  an  heap,  &  did  begin  to  magnifie  you  like  Joshua  in  yc  sight  of  all 
Israel,  by  those  great  actions  that  were  so  much  for  ye  honour  of  God  &  y«  great  deliver- 
ance of  ye  English  dominions  from  popery  &  slavery,  &  all  this  separated  from  those  sor- 
rowes  that  usually  attend  ye  introducing  of  a  peaceable  settlement  in  any  troubled  state; 
all  which  doth  affect  vs  with  a  sense  of  our  duty  to  return  y  highest  praises  unto  ye  King 
of  Kings  &  Lord  of  Hosts,  &  blesse  Him  who  hath  delighted  in  you  to  set  you 
on  ye  throne  of  His  Israeli,  &  to  say,  Because  ye  Lord  loved  Israeli  forever,  therefore 
hath  he  made  you  King,  to  do  Justice  &  Judgement ;  &  also  humble  &  hearty  acknowl- 
edgements for  that  great  zeal  that  by  your  Majesty  hath  been  expressed,  in  those  hazards 
you  have  put  your  Royall  Person  to,  &  in  ye  expense  of  so  great  treasure  in  ye  defense  of 
ye  Protestant  interest :  In  ye  consideration  of  all  which,  we  your  Majestie's  clutifull  & 
loyall  subjects  of  your  Sd  Colony,  are  incouraged  humbly  to  intimate  that  we  with  much 
favour  obtained  a  Charter  of  King  Charles  ye  2d  of  happy  memory,  bearing  date  Aprill 
23,  1662,  in  ye  I4th  year  of  his  reign,  granted  to  the  Govern'  &  Company  of  his  Majestie's 
Colony  of  Conecticot,  ye  advantages  &  priveledges  whereof  made  us  indeed  a  very  happy 
people  ;  &  by  ye  blessing  of  God  upon  our  endeavours  we  have  made  a  considerable 
improvement  of  your  dominions  here,  which  with  ye  defense  of  ourselves  from  ye  force  of 
both  forraign  £  intestine  enemies  has  cost  vs  much  expence  of  treasure  &  blood." 

They  represented  in  glowing  words  the  arts  and  intrigues  of  Andros 
and  Randolph  ;  the  quo  warrantos  ;  the  misconstruction  placed  upon 
their  last  letter  to  King  James  of  a  resignation  of  their  charter,  which  was 
never  intended  ;  the  coming  of  Andros  to  Hartford  with  his  court  and 
grenadiers,  dissolving  their  court,  and  assuming  the  reins  of  government ; 
the  sorrowful  submission  of  the  magistrates  and  people;  the  fears  and  per- 
plexities they  had  suffered  from  want  of  their  old  government  and  of  being 
drawn  into  another  war  with  the  Indians  through  the  French  in  Canada  ;  not 
receiving  any  orders  or  directions  what  methods  to  take  for  their  security, 
they  had  been  necessitated  to  put  themselves  into  some  form  of  government ; 
and  as  there  was  none  so  familiar  to  them  as  that  of  their  charter,  nor  any 
which  would  so  effectually  gain  the  universal  compliance  of  the  people, 
and  never  having  received  any  enrollment  of  that  which  was  interpreted  a 
resignation  of  their  charter,  they  had  on  the  Qth  of  May,  by  the  consent  of 
the  major  part  of  the  freemen  resumed  their  former  mode  of  government 
under  their  charter,  until  they  received  further  orders.  They  entreated 
his  Majesty  to  continue  to  them  their  former  liberties  and  privileges,  both 
civil  and  sacred,  under  their  charter,  with  such  ratifications  and  confirma- 
tions as  might  further  insure  it  an  inheritance  to  them  and  their  posterity. 

An  impression  or  dread  prevailed  that  King  James  might,  through  the 
assistance  of  the  King  of  France,  reclaim  his  throne,  and  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic religion  gain  an  ascendency  in  England,  through  the  infant  James, 


250  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1689 

whose  mother  would  undoubtedly  educate  him  in  that  faith.  Although 
Governor  Andros  professed  to  belong  to  the  Church  of  England,  by 
many  he  was  believed  to  be  a  staunch  Romanist  ;  but  whether  a  Chinch- 
man  or  a  Romanist,  neither  the  Puritans  of  New  England  nor  their  neigh- 
bors in  New  York,  had  any  idea  of  allowing  the  Church  of  Rome  to  gain 
a  foothold  among  them. 

The  favor  shown  in  the  mother-country  to  the  Romanists  through  the 
king's  Declaration  of  Liberty  of  Conscience,  produced  a  most  unhappy 
state  of  affairs  in  England  as  well  as  in  America.  An  absurd  rumor  was 
set  on  foot  in  New  York,  that  the  Romanists,  who  were  very  few  in  num- 
bers there,  were  about  to  massacre  all  the  Dutch  inhabitants;  and  "  that 
Lieutenant-Governor  Nicholson  had  threatened  to  burn  the  city."  Captain 
Jacob  Leisler  took  possession  of  the  fort,  and  assumed  temporarily  the 
military  government  of  the  city.  He  was  a  coarse,  illiterate  man,  and  a 
bitter  enemy  to  popery,  kings,  and  the  Church  of  England.  The  wildest 
excitement  followed,  in  the  midst  of  which  a  vessel  from  Barbadoes 
brought  tidings  of  the  abdication  of  James  II.  ;  and  that  William  and 
Mary  had  taken  possession  of  the  throne  of  England. 

Leisler  received  the  news  with  apparent  delight,  and  gave  out  word 
that  he  should  hold  the  fort  until  proper  authorities  were  sent  from  Eng- 
land to  control  the  city.  He  wrote  to  some  of  the  leading  men  of  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts.  Major  Gold  wrote  Leisler  on  the  5th  of 
June,  congratulating  him  upon  his  taking  possession  of  the  fort  and  city, 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Protestant  religion.  Leisler  replied  on  the 
7th,  and  advised  that  a  committee  might  be  chosen,  and  "  one  trusted  man 
sent  to  procure  in  England  some  privileges."  He  also  expressed  a  wish 
that  the  people  of  New  York  might  have  part  in  the  Connecticut  charter, 
"  being  as  he  understood  in  the  same  latitude." 

On  the  1 3th  of  June  the  General  Court  addressed  a  letter  to  Captain 
Leisler,  acknowledging  his  declaration  made  on  the  3ist  of  May,  in  which 
he  claimed  "  to  hold  the  fort  in  the  defence  of  the  city,  the  Protestant 
religion,"  &c. ;  also  a  writing  they  had  seen,  in  which  he  declared  that  upon 
the  arrival  of  any  order  from  the  Prince  of  Orange,  "he  would  deliver  up 
the  fort,  with  all  the  artillery,  arms  &  ammunition  belonging  to  it."  In 
consideration  of  his  action,  the  court  advised  Leisler  to  "suffer  no  Roman 
Catholic,  to  enter  the  same,  armed  or  unarmed,  or  be  suffered  to  keep  arms 
within  the  government  or  city."  In  order  to  encourage  him,  they  wrote 
that  they  had  "  appointed  the  Honored  Major  Nathan  Gold  &  Captain 
James  Fitch  "  to  go  to  New  York,  and  report  to  them  what  help  should 
be  offered  from  Connecticut. 


1689]  THE   DECADE   OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  251 

Major  Gold  and  Captain  Fitch  very  soon  after,  rode  on  horseback  to 
New  York.  News  of  their  coming  had  preceded  them,  and  the  mayor 
and  aldermen  of  the  city,  who  had  remained  passive  during  the  confusion 
of  Leisler's  remarkable  proceedings,  resolved  to  seek  an  interview  with 
them  before  they  reached  the  city.  Unfortunately  they  missed  them  at 
Westchester,  they  having  taken  another  route;  and  arriving  at  the  fort 
the  same  evening,  presented  Leisler  with  a  printed  copy  of  the  proclama- 
tion of  William  and  Mary,  and  with  letters  of  encouragement  from  Con- 
necticut. 

On  the  following  morning  William  and  Mary  were  formally  proclaimed, 
first  in  the  fort,  and  then  from  the  City  Hall.  Meanwhile  Major  Gold 
and  his  companion  were  so  blinded  by  the  pretensions  of  Leisler,  and  his 
stories  of  " hcllisli  designs"  that  they  reported  their  "  flesh  trembled." 
The  storm  of  invectives  and  the  brutal  conduct  of  Leisler  and  his 
adherents  towards  Major  Van  Cortland  and  the  aldermen  of  the  city, 
whom  they  accused  of  being  Papists,  with  the  cries  of  the  ignorant  crowd, 
"  Seize  the  traitor  !  &  down  with  Popery  !  "  that  Major  Gold  and  Captain 
Fitch  returned  to  Connecticut,  fully  persuaded  that  half  New  York  was 
filled  with  Papists,  who  were  only  waiting  a  favorable  opportunity  to  rise 
and  slay  every  Protestant  in  the  city.  This,  however,  was  far  from  being 
the  case,  which  was  proved  to  the  fathers  of  Connecticut  in  the  course 
of  time,  when  the  ambitious  Leisler's  disgraceful  intrigues  came  to  be 
known. 

Meanwhile  William,  the  new  king,  who  favored  the  dissenters,  passed 
the  bill  known  as  the  "  Toleration  Act  "  (May  24th),  by  which  "  all  who 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  &  supremacy,  &  made  a  declaration  against 
transubstantiation,  were  thereby  exempted  from  the  penalties  incurred  by 
absenting  themselves  from  church,  or  by  frequenting  unlawful  conventi- 
cles." Dissenters  were  now  restrained  from  meeting  with  locked  doors, 
and  penalties  laid  upon  their  congregations  being  disturbed.  All  Papists, 
however,  and  persons  who  denied  the  Trinity,  were  excluded  from  any 
share  in  the  benefit  to  be  derived  from  the  new  act.  The  opposition  of 
the  bishop  of  the  Church  of  England,  the  primate,  and  about  four  hundred 
ministers  to  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance,  resulted  in  their  being  deprived 
of  their  livings,  and  gave  the  king  an  opportunity  to  show  his  predilection 
for  Presbyterians. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  Toleration  Act  was  a  source  of  great 
departure  from  the  early  church  regulations  in  the  New  England  towns, 
and  the  vigorous  efforts  which  had  been  made  within  the  past  few  years, 
to  compel  an  enforcement  of  the  colony  laws  in  regard  to  the  duties  of  the 


252  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1689 

Lord's  Day.  Scarcely  had  the  joy  of  escaping  from  the  tyrannical  reign 
of  Andros  been  experienced,  than  the  colonies  found  themselves  at  war 
with  the  French  and  Indians.  The  eastern  towns  of  New  England  had 
been  subject  to  frequent  depredations  by  the  Indians,  while  the  French 
and  northern  Indians  were  menacing  the  Canadian  frontiers.  A  special 
General  Court  was  assembled  at  Hartford  on  the  2Qth  of  August ;  but 
there  not  being  a  sufficient  number  of  the  assistants  present,  it  was 
resolved  to  call  a  second  court  on  the  3d  of  September.*  Major  Gold 
alone  represented  Fairfield.  A  letter  of  August  3d  from  Governor  Brad- 
street  of  Massachusetts,  complaining  of  the  depredations  of  the  eastern 
Indians,  was  read  before  the  Assembly.  He  also  informed  them  of  the 
escape  of  Governor  Andros  from  the  castle  ;  and  that  he  had  issued  orders 
for  him  to  be  searched  for  by  water  and  land.  Another  letter  of  August 
2 1st  from  Governor  Bradstreet  was  read,  renewing  complaints  of  the  incur- 
sions of  the  enemy  on  the  frontier  towns,  murdering  and  taking  captive 
the  English  and  burning  and  destroying  their  houses  ;  and  requesting  that 
Captain  Bull  be  sent  from  Connecticut  to  accompany  their  messengers  to 
treat  with  the  Maqueas  or  Mohawks. 

Captain  Bull  having  already  gone  upon  his  mission,  it  was  agreed  to 
send  commissioners  to  treat  with  the  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and  Rhode 
Island  commissioners  as  to  the  best  way  to  suppress  the  eastern  Indians, 
and  to  right  whatever  wrongs  they  have  sustained.  If  necessary,  it  was 
voted  to  raise  an  army,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  men  from  Connecticut, 
to  be  sent  to  their  relief.  Commissions  were  issued  to  officers  appointed 
for  each  county.  Ebenezer  Johnson  was  chosen  captain  for  the  counties 
of  Fairfield  and  New  Haven,  with  orders  to  impress  men  into  the  service, 
if  sufficient  volunteers  could  not  be  raised  for  the  number  agreed  upon,  as 
well  as  arms,  ammunition  and  provisions.  Colonels  were  appointed  over 
sergeant-majors  and  all  inferior  officers.  Two  companies  were  organized 
and  placed  under  the  command  of  Captains  George  Dennison  of  New 
London,  and  Ebenezer  Johnson  of  Stratford. 

The  governor  or  deputy-governor,  and  not  less  than  four  of  the  assist- 
ants, were  appointed  a  committee  to  act  in  any  speedy  emergency  with 
the  Indians.  An  order  was  issued  for  a  list  to  be  made  of  persons  and 
estates  in  the  colony  ratable  by  law,  to  be  presented  to  the  next  General 

*A  severe  epidemic  of  sore  throat  and  fever  prevailed  throughout  Connecticut  at  this  time. 
Almost  every  town  contained  more  or  less  victims  of  the  disease.  Several  of  the  magistrates  were 
prostrated  by  it,  and  the  mortality  in  some  towns  was  very  great.  Added  to  this  affliction,  the 
weather  was  unusually  warm,  "the  like  having  not  been  known  in  the  memory  of  man."  Col. 
Rec.  of  Conn.,  IV.,  I.  Caulkin's  Hist,  of  New  London,  p.  198. 


i689]  THE  DECADE  OF  THE   ENGLISH    REVOLUTION  253 

Court.     If  any  neglected  to  obey  this  order  the  listers  were  to  rate  them 
"  will  &  doome" 

The  nth  of  December  was  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
throughout  the  colony,  "  to  seek  the  Lord,  to  save  the  land  for  his  own 
name's  sake,  by  giving  counsel  &  success  to  the  endeavors  of  his  people,  in 
serving  his  holy  providence,  for  the  suppression  of  the  cruel  &  crafty 
enemies  of  his  people,"  and  for  the  removal  of  sickness. 

Meanwhile  Andros  had  been  captured  in  Rhode  Island  by  Major  San- 
ford.  He  was  a  dangerous  enemy  to  be  allowed  his  freedom  at  this  time, 
and  the  leaders  of  the  revolution  had  no  idea  of  giving  him  this  precious 
boon,  until  their  cause  was  more  definitely  decided  in  England.  Owing  to 
certain  clauses  in  their  letter  to  the  king  and  queen,  Mr.  Whiting  had  not 
presented  it  at  court;  but  both  he  and  the  Rev.  Increase  Mather  v/ere 
laboring  for  the  restoration  of  their  former  privileges  under  their  charters. 
In  August  Mr.  Whiting  wrote  to  Governor  Treat,  that  an  address  by  word 
of  mouth  had  been  made  in  their  behalf,  which  was  well  received  ;  that  a 
copy  of  their  charter  had  been  exhibited  at  the  council  board,  where  it 
was  asserted  that  there  was  neither  record  of  surrender  or  judgment 
against  it,  which  \vas  acknowledged  by  the  late  attorney-general  and  Mr. 
Blaythwait.  He  therefore  supposed  their  charter  to  be  good.  Owing  to 
his  years  and  his  want  of  a  proper  supply  of  money  to  further  their 
interest,  he  recommended  Sir  Henry  Ashurst  as  a  proper  attorney,  and 
referred  them  for  further  information  to  Mr.  Mather. 

On  the  3d  of  September  a  sufficient  number  of  assistants  joined  those 
already  at  Hartford,  to  constitute  a  legal  court.  After  confirming  the 
steps  taken  on  the  2Qth  in  commissioning  Captain  Bull  to  treat  with  the 
Mohawks,  they  appointed  commissioners  to  meet  with  the  commissioners 
of  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  and  Rhode  Island,  at  Boston,  to  consider  the 
best  way  to  insure  peace,  or  if  necessary  to  declare  war. 

The  usual  fall  Assembly  met  on  the  loth  of  October,  when  it  was 
voted,  that  owing  to  the  expense  of  raising  troops  to  defend  "  the  colony 
&  of  assisting  his  Majestie's  other  colonies,  the  troops  sent  to  defend  New 
York  should  be  recalled."  At  the  same  time  Captain  Leister  was  assured 
that  in  case  of  an  invasion,  they  would  relieve  him  to  their  best  ability. 
The  number  of  men  to  be  raised  in  each  county  for  the  expedition  was 
chosen.  Major  Gold  was  appointed  to  furnish  one  lieutenant,  one  ensign 
and  fourteen  men  for  the  county  of  Fairfield. 

The  governor  or  deputy-governor,  with  not  less  than  three  of  the 
assistants  and  a  number  of  gentlemen,  were  constituted  a  committee  or 
council  of  safety. 


254  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1689 

A  change  was  made  at  this  time  in  the  mode  of  electing  governors  and 
magistrates.  An  annual  freeman's  meeting  was  appointed  at  the  meeting- 
house in  each  town  in  the  colony,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  March,  at  which 
time  each  freeman  was  allowed  to  give  in  the  written  names  of  twenty 
persons  nominated  for  assistants,  to  the  constable  and  commissioners.  On 
the  following  Tuesday  the  constables  were  to  carry  these  sealed  nominations 
to  the  county  towns,  and  the  constable  of  each  county  town  alone,  or  with 
another  appointed  to  accompany  him,  was  to  carry  the  said  sealed 
nominees  to  Hartford  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  March,  and  present  them  in 
the  court  chamber  to  the  assistants  or  secretary,  before  whom  each  con- 
stable was  to  take  oath  "  faithfully  to  sort  the  votes."  Out  of  the  twenty 
nominees,  the  ones  who  had  the  most  votes  were  to  be  returned  to  the 
county  towns,  and  the  several  towns  in  each  county  notified  of  the  twenty, 
that  by  the  freemen  were  appointed  to  stand  for  the  nomination  at  the 
court  of  election.  The  last  Tuesday  in  April  was  appointed  for  the  free- 
men to  meet  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  the  meeting-house,  and  out 
of  the  twenty  nominated,  proceed  to  elect  the  governor,  deputy-governor, 
assistants,  treasurer  and  secretary.  Each  freeman  was  to  write  his  vote 
for  the  governor  and  deputy-governor  upon  a  slip  of  paper,  seal  it  and 
write  his  name  upon  it;  and  in  like  manner  the  names  of  the  treasurer  and 
secretary,  the  assistants  and  deputies,  seal  them  and  write  his  name  upon 
them,  and  deliver  them  to  the  deputies  of  his  town,  to  be  delivered  by 
them  to  the  court  of  election,  "  any  former  order  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing." "And  the  twelve  men  who  had  the  most  votes,  were  declared 
assistants  for  the  year  ensuing. 

It  was  declared  that  all  persons  twenty-one  years  of  age,  of  peaceable, 
orderly  and  good  conversation,  owning  estates  to  the  value  of  forty 
shillings,  upon  taking  the  freeman's  oath,  should  be  allowed  to  vote. 
Having  resumed  the  government,  the  annual  salaries  of  the  governors  and 
magistrates  were  agreed  upon.  A  tax  of  a  penny  half-penny  on  the  pound 
was  levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  If  any  paid  two-thirds 
of  their  tax  in  money,  it  was  to  be  accepted  as  full  pay  for  the  whole. 

While  active  measures  were  being  made  for  the  defense  of  the  colonies, 
a  French  fleet,  conveying  a  large  body  of  land  forces,  had  been  sent  from 
France  for  the  reduction  of  New  York;  but  the  design  was  frustrated  by 
the  unhappy  condition  of  the  French  in  Canada,  who  were  suffering 
greatly  from  the  incursions  of  the  Mohawks.  Meanwhile  Captain  Bull, 
with  a  company  of  Connecticut  troops,  was  dispatched  to  Albany  to 
defend  that  part  of  the  country,  as  well  as  to  treat  with  the  Five  Nations. 


CHAPTER   VI 
1690-1700 

CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT 

Prosperity  of  the  town. — French  and  Indian  war. — Loss  at  Schenectady. — Military  rule. — Fairfield 
troops  at  Albany — Military  tax. — Matthew  Sherwood,  captain  of  dragoons. — John  Burr,  cap- 
tain of  militia. — Embargo  on  grain  and  provisions. — Agent  to  England. — First  colonial  con- 
gress in  America. — Magistrates  of  1690. — Expedition  against  Quebec. — Tyranny  of  Leisler. — 
Friendship  of  the  Mohawks. — Fugitive  slaves. — Fairfield  village  and  school. — Salt  manufac- 
tories.— Connecticut  charter. — Latin  schools. — Fairfield  village  church  and  members.  —  Rev. 
Charles  Chauncy. — Death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman. — Rev.  Joseph  Webb,  third  pastor 
of  Christ's  church. — Grover's  hill. — Town  acts. — Witchcraft. — Men  and  Indians  sent  to 
defend  Maine  and  Massachusetts. — Military  claims  of  Col.  Fletcher. — Major  Winthrop 
sent  to  England. — Fairfield  taxed. — Fairfield  village  and  parish. — Postal  laws. — Powder  money. 
— Agents  sent  to  the  Five  Nations. — Death  of  Queen  Mary. — Parish  records  of  Fair- 
field  and  church  covenant. — Piracy  and  Captain  Kidd. — Value  of  Silver. — Maintenance  for 
ministers. — Expedition  to  New  Foundland. — The  Earl  of  Bellomont. — County  courts. — Epi- 
demic of  1698. — The  king's  highway  and  postal  routes. — College  in  Connecticut. — Magis- 
trates of  1699. — Counterfeiting. — Laws  for  Fairfield  village. — Official  fees. — Preservation  of 
forests. — Founders  of  Yale  college. 

FIFTY  years  had  now  elapsed  since  the  settlement  of  the  town  of  Fair- 
field,  and  the  fair  fields  which  attracted  Roger  Ludlow  and  his  little  band 
of  pioneers  had  become  fairer  still  under  the  cultivation  of  the  thrifty 
planters.  The  large  tracts,  from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  even  to 
the  centre  of  Redding,  had  been  staked  off  or  fenced  in  to  the  dividend- 
holders.  Prospered  in  an  unusual  degree,  Fairfield  had  known  nothing  of 
the  distresses  and  devastations  of  the  northern  and  eastern  towns  of  Con- 
necticut. Rich  in  agriculture  and  in  commerce,  the  growth  of  wheat, 
corn,  oats  and  barley  furnished  supplies  for  other  markets  and  enriched 
the  planters.  In  point  of  political  influence,  no  town  in  New  England  was 
of  more  importance,  nor  was  there  one  that  more  readily  responded  to 
calls  for  military  assistance  from  the  eastern  colonies,  or  from  the  province 
of  New  York.  Fairfield's  assistants,  judges  and  ministers,  might  well  be 
compared  to  the  sturdy,  rugged  pines  of  the  forest,  standing  out  as  sen- 
tinels, honored  and  revered  by  their  contemporaries  in  America,  and  not 
less  honored  in  England.  Most  of  them  were  young  men  when  they 
came  to  Fairfield,  and  had  seen  one  after  another  of  their  early  associates 
pass  away.  Though  years  advanced  upon  them,  and  their  locks  were 


256  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1690 

white  with  the  frosts  of  time,  they  still  girded  on  their  armor,  ready  to  die 
in  harness,  whenever  and  wherever  death  should  overtake  them. 

The  alarming  state  of  affairs  in  the  frontier  towns  of  New  England  and 
New  York,  and  a  threatened  invasion  by  a  French  fleet,  sent  out  by  Louis 
XIV.,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Count  de  Frontenac,  to  surprise 
Albany  and  take  possession  of  the  Island  of  Manhattan,  occupied  the 
minds  of  the  leading  men  of  the  country  at  this  time.  The  revocation  of 
the  edict  of  Nantes  by  Louis  XIV.  in  1665  had  led  a  number  of  Huguenot 
families  to  emigrate  to  America.  It  was  rumored  that  the  French  king 
had  given  orders,  if  the  expedition  was  successful,  "  to  put  to  the  torture  " 
some  two  hundred  Huguenot  families  who  had  settled  in  the  province,  and 
to  destroy  the  English  settlements  in  the  vicinity  of  the  island.  "All 
officers  &  principal  inhabitants  from  whom  ransoms  could  not  be 
exacted,"  were  to  be  detained  in  prison,  and  all  French  refugees  of  the 
reformed  religion  found  in  New  York  were  to  be  shipped  back  to  France. 
The  control  of  New  York  by  Leisler  was  most  unfortunate,  and  divided 
the  province  into  factions.  His  rule  was  that  of  a  tyrant,  and  all  who  did 
not  favor  his  usurpation,  of  whatever  creed,  were  called  Catholics,  and 
treated  with  insult  and  severity.  Appeals  were  sent  to  the  king  by  promi- 
nent gentlemen,  asking  for  a  large  force  to  protect  "the  centre  of  all  the 
English  plantations."  An  effort  was  made  at  this  time  to  include  New 
York,  Connecticut,  the  Jerseys  and  Pennsylvania,  under  one  government, 
which  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  Rev.  Increase  Mather  in  England. 

Meanwhile,  a  body  of  between  two  and  three  hundred  French  and 
Indians,  equipped  and  furnished  for  a  winter's  campaign,  under  the  com- 
mand of  D'Aillebout,  De  Mantel  and  Le  Moyn,  had  been  dispatched  from 
Montreal  against  the  English  frontier  settlements.  During  a  march  of 
twenty-two  days  of  intense  suffering  from  cold  and  hunger,  they  reached 
Schenectady  on  the  8th  of  February,  having  resolved  to  give  themselves 
up  as  prisoners  of  war.  Encouraged,  however,  by  their  scouts,  they 
entered  the  town  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  fell  upon  the  unsuspecting 
inhabitants,  and  put  them  to  death  in  the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  manner. 
Sixty  persons  were  killed  and  twenty  captured.  Others,  escaping  in  their 
night-clothes  into  the  forests,  suffered  the  pangs  of  frozen  limbs  and 
amputation. 

Captain  Bull,  who  had  been  sent  with  the  Connecticut  forces  to  defend 
Albany,  lost  his  lieutenant,  one  of  his  sergeants,  and  five  others  were  taken 
prisoners.  On  the  i8th  of  March  an  attack  was  made  upon  Salmon  Falls. 
Thirty-six  men  were  killed,  and  fifty-four,  mostly  women  and  children, 
taken  captives.  The  whole  country  was  roused,  and  Connecticut  was 


1690]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  257 

again  called  upon  to  assist  still  further  in  the  defense  of  New  York,  the 
frontiers  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  and  the  upper  towns  on 
the  Connecticut  river. 

Through  instructions  from  Governor  Andros  in  August,  1688,  Major 
Gold  had  taken  every  precaution  for  the  defense  of  Fairfield  in  case  of  an 
attack  from  foreign  foes  or  hostile  Indians.  The  town  was  now  put  under 
strict  vigilance  and  military  rule.  All  along  the  Sound,  watch  and  ward 
was  kept  by  day  and  by  night.  A  special  General  Assembly  was  held  at 
Hartford  on  the  iith  of  April,  when  war  was  declared  against  the 
French  and  Indians  of  Canada.  The  governor,  deputy-governor,  and  the 
assistants  of  the  General  Court  were  made  a  council  of  war.  Two  foot  com- 
panies of  English  and  Indians  were  ordered  to  be  speedily  raised  and  sent  for 
the  protection  of  Albany,  one  of  which  was  to  be  from  the  Hartford  and 
New  London  counties,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Joseph  Fitch  ;  while 
the  others,  consisting  of  sixty  English  and  forty  Indians,  from  Fairfield 
and  New  Haven  counties,  were  commanded  by  Captain  Ebenezer  John- 
son of  Stratford.  A  tax  of  four  pence  on  the  pound  was  levied  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  expedition.  That  there  might  be  no  failure  in  fitting 
out  and  maintaining  the  soldiers  for  the  expedition,  the  Assembly  recom- 
mended the  select-men  and  assistants  of  each  town  to  send  the  colony 
what  provisions  and  grain  should  be  necessary  for  the  space  of  ten  months. 
John  Burr  was  appointed  captain,  Mathew  Sherwood  lieutenant,  and 
Nathan  Gold,  jr.,  ensign  of  the  Fairfield  train  band.  Mathew  Sherwood 
of  Stratfield  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  dragoons  of  Fairfield 
county,  James  Judson  lieutenant,  and  David  VVaterbury  ensign.*  The 
commissioned  officers  of  each  town  were  to  list,  and  appoint  every  seventh 
man  in  each  company  to  be  a  flying  army  of  dragoons.  All  male  persons 
upwards  of  sixteen  years  of  age,  except  Indians  and  negroes,  were  ordered 
to  serve  on  the  town  military  watch.  The  watch  of  persons  absent  or  at  sea 
was  to  be  supplied  by  their  families;  widows  and  men  disabled  by  infirm- 
ities, owning  estates  of  fifty  pounds,  were  to  supply  a  watch  for  their 
protection.  Ministers,  assistants,  and  commissioned  officers  were  exempt 
from  this  obligation. 

The  fortifications  of  each  town  were  ordered  to  be  repaired  and 
equipped  without  delay.  There  appears  to  be  no  document  confirming 
the  idea  that  Grover's  hill  was  fortified  at  this  time,  but  it  undoubtedly 
was,  and  had  been  for  a  long  time,  as  it  commanded  the  harbor  of  Black 

"  Captains  were  allowed  255.  a  week  ;  lieutenants,  i5s  ;  ensigns,  15s  ;  sergeants,  12s  ;  cor- 
porals, 10s-  ;  and  trumpeters,  12$  The  Indians  were  to  be  paid  by  agreement  with  their  captains. 
— Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  vol.  4.  19,  20. 


258  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Rock  and  Fairfield.  To  prevent  the  seizure  of  grain  by  the  French  or 
pirates,  it  was  ordered,  "  that  no  corn  or  provision  of  any  kind  should  be 
shipped  out  of  the  ports  of  the  colony  for  the  space  of  three  months,  with- 
out special  license  from  the  governor  or  two  assistants,"  under  a  penalty  of 
confiscation.  Major  Gold  and  Captain  John  Burr  were  appointed  to  give 
special  licenses  for  Fairfield  county.  A  letter  having  been  sent  to  the 
king  by  the  governor  and  council  in  January,  and  fifty  pounds  having  also 
been  raised  to  send  to  their  agent  in  England  to  be  used  in  behalf  of  the 
interests  of  the  colony,  the  Assembly  agreed  that  it  should  be  paid  out  of 
the  public  treasury. 

Through  the  influence  of  Captain  Leisler,  the  meeting  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  united  colonies  took  place  on  the  1st  of  May  at  New  York 
instead  of  Rhode  Island.  This  was  the  first  colonial  congress  ever  held  in 
America.  Major  Gold  and  William  Pitkin  represented  Connecticut.  It 
was  agreed  that  an  attack  should  be  made  upon  Quebec,  and  that  an  army 
of  eight  or  nine  hundred  Englishmen  and  five  or  six  hundred  Indians 
should  be  raised  without  delay.  A  fleet  and  army  of  eighteen  hundred  or 
two  thousand  men  were  to  proceed  up  the  St.  Lawrence  at  the  same  time 
and  unite  with  the  land  forces  in  the  attack  upon  Quebec.  The  Five 
Nations  were  expected  to  join  them.  New  York  was  to  furnish  four 
hundred  men;  Massachusetts,  one  hundred  and  sixty;  Plymouth,  sixty  ; 
Connecticut,  two  foot  companies  of  two  hundred  men,  out  of  which  number 
New  Haven  and  Fairfield  counties  were  to  raise  sixty  English  and  forty 
Indians,  and  Maryland  one  hundred.  Rhode  Island,  not  being  able  to 
send  men,  promised  to  raise  money  instead.* 

Without  delay  Leisler  armed  and  equipped  vessels  to  proceed  to 
Quebec,  and  also  privateers  to  cruise  off  Block  Island  and  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  f  Although  an  appeal  was  made  for  assistance  from  England,  the 
navy  of  King  William  was  needed  at  home,  and  could  not  furnish  any 
help  whatever  to  the  colonies  at  this  time.  The  general  court  of  election 
met  at  Hartford  immediately  after  the  congress  adjourned.  Major  Gold 
and  Major  John  Burr  were  chosen  assistants,  Mr.  John  Wakeman,  deputy, 
and  Jehu  Burr,  commissioner.  Major  Gold  \vas  appointed  with  Mr. 
Samuel  Willys  to  return  the  thanks  of  the  Assembly  to  the  Rev.  James 
Pierpont  for  preaching  an  election  sermon.  It  was  also  voted  that  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  Englishmen  should  be  added  to  the  Connecticut 
soldiers  already  in  Albany,  and  as  many  Indians  as  would  swell  the 
number  to  two  hundred.  The  commissioners  were  ordered  to  supply  all 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  402. 

f  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Lamb's  Hist    New  York,  I.,  379. 


169o]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  259 

necessary  clothing  and  provisions  for  the  soldiers  that  had  occasion  to 
march  through  the  plantations.  Each  dragoon  was  to  be  furnished  with 
ten  pounds  of  good  biscuit.  Daniel  Burr  was  appointed  commissary  for 
Fairfield  county. 

News  having  reached  the  court  that  the  forces  sent  to  the  relief  of 
Albany  had  nearly  reached  their  destination,  but  that  the  small-pox  had 
broken  out  among  them  ;  and  also  that  they  were  unwilling  to  march 
under  Major  Jacob  Milburne,  the  son-in-law  of  Leisler,  or  under  a  major 
appointed  by  Captain  Leisler,  it  was  resolved  to  send  to  Boston  and  ascer- 
tain when  soldiers  from  there  would  be  ready  to  move  from  Westfield,  and 
who  they  were  willing  should  be  their  major.  In  the  mean  time  it  was 
voted  that  the  recruits  should  not  move  from  their  places  until  they  heard 
again  from  Albany.  John  Winthrop  was  soon  after  appointed  major-gen- 
eral and  commander-in-chief  of  the  land  forces.  Sir  William  Phipps,  the 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  was  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  fleet, 
which  consisted  of  between  thirty  and  forty  vessels,  the  largest  of  which 
carried  forty-four  guns  and  two  hundred  men. 

Early  in  August  the  land  forces  under  Major  Winthrop  arrived  at 
Wood  Creek.  About  the  same  time  the  fleet  sailed  from  Narragansett, 
but  through  delays  and  adverse  winds  did  not  arrive  at  Quebec  befoVe  the 
5th  of  October.  Meanwhile  the  land  forces  continued  their  march  to  the 
appointed  rendezvous  of  the  Five  Nations.  They  found  but  about  seventy 
warriors  from  the  Mohawks  and  Oneydas.  Messengers  were  dispatched 
to  the  other  nations,  but  they  returned  with  a  request  for  delay.  After 
advancing  about  a  hundred  miles  farther  north,  to  the  head  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  General  Winthrop,  not  rinding  a  sufficient  supply  of  canoes  to  con- 
vey his  army  across  the  lake  into  Canada,  appealed  to  the  Indians  for 
others;  but  they  replied  "  that  it  was  too  late  in  the  season  to  make 
canoes,  as  the  bark  would  not  peel."  They  artfully  evaded  every  effort 
proposed  by  the  council  of  war,  discouraged  an  attack  upon  Quebec  as  an 
undertaking  which  "  looked  too  high,"  and  advised  an  attack  upon  Cam- 
bly  and  the  settlements  on  this  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 

At  this  critical  time  another  misfortune  arose.  Milburne  had  been 
appointed  commissary  for  the  New  York  forces,  and  was  to  furnish  a 
bountiful  supply  of  provisions.  Upon  discovering  that  he  had  failed  to  do 
so,  a  council  of  war  was  held,  and  it  was  learned  that  the  main  body  would 
be  obliged  to  retire  to  Albany  for  subsistence.  The  Connecticut  forces 
had  come  well  supplied  with  provisions  ;  but  they  found  only  a  portion  of 
the  army.  About  a  hundred  and  forty  of  the  bravest  young  men  and 
Indians  were  dispatched  into  Canada  to  make  all  the  display  possible  in 


260  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1690 

favor  of  the  fleet.  The  retreat  to  Albany,  however,  prior  to  the  arrival  of 
the  fleet  before  Quebec,  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  expedition.  Mean- 
while Count  Fontenac  moved  with  all  his  force  to  Montreal,  to  defend  the 
country  against  the  advancing  army.  Upon  receiving  intelligence  through 
his  scouts  that  this  army  was  retreating  to  Albany,  he  immediately 
returned  to  Quebec.  Before  his  arrival,  there  were  not  more  than  two 
hundred  Frenchmen  in  the  place,  which,  if  attacked,  would  have  surren- 
dered at  the  first  summons.  The  troops,  however,  landed  on  the  8th  of 
October,  and  advanced  towards  the  town.  On  the  following  day  the 
ships  were  drawn  up  before  it,  and  commenced  a  brisk  cannonading,  but.  to 
little  effect.  The  well-directed  fire  of  the  French  batteries  did  consider- 
able damage  to  their  vessels,  and  although  the  troops  maintained  their 
ground  with  spirit,  the  accounts  which  they  received  of  the  strength  of  the 
enemy  so  discouraged  them,  that  on  the  iith  they  re-embarked.  A  severe 
storm  soon  after  drove  them  from  their  moorings,  and  scattered  the  whole 
fleet.  Thus  ended  a  well  concerted  expedition,  which,  for  want  of  proper 
preparations  and  skillful  navigators,  was  defeated. 

Captain  Leisler  and  his  party  were  enraged  at  the  retreat.  Milburne 
charged  upon  Major  Winthrop  his  own  short  comings  ;  but  the  army  and 
the  principal  gentlemen  of  Albany,  among  whom  was  Robert  Livingston, 
fully  justified  Winthrop,  knowing  it  would  have  been  madness  to  cross 
into  the  enemy's  country  without  a  sufficient  supply  of  provisions.  Leis- 
ler took  opportunity  while  the  army  were  encamped  on  this  side  of  the 
Hudson,  to  arrest  Major  Winthrop  and  put  him,  as  well  as  the  Connecti- 
cut commissary,  Richard  Blackleach,  of  Stratford,  in  irons,  that  they  might 
be  tried  before  a  court-martial.  After  passing  several  days  under  arrest, 
Winthrop  was  brought  to  trial  ;  but  the  Mohawks  of  his  camp  crossed  the 
river,  and  carried  him  off,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  army.  So  enraged  was 
Leisier  at  the  favor  shown  Winthrop  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  general 
council  at  Albany,  that  they  were  obliged  to  take  refuge  from  his  wrath  in 
New  England.  Robert  Livingston  resided  for  some  time  at  Hartford. 

The  treatment  Major  Winthrop  received  from  Leisler  gave  great 
offense  in  Connecticut,  and  was  regarded  as  entirely  lawless.  The  gov- 
ernor and  his  council  of  war  demanded  Winthrop's  release,  and  also  that 
of  commissary  Blackleach.  Governor  Treat,  in  the  name  of  the  council, 
wrote  to  Leisler:  "  If  you  are  concerned,  so  are  we,  since  the  army  is  con- 
federate ;  &  if  you  alone  judge  upon  the  general's  &  council  of  war's 
action,  it  will  infringe  our  liberty.  ...  A  prison  is  not  a  catJiolicon  for  all 
state  maladies,  though  so  much  used  by  you."  Treat  further  wrote  to 
Leisler  that  as  he  (Leisler)  was  one  to  give  his  signature  to  the  article 


1690]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  26 1 

agreed  upon  at  New  York,  if  he  proceeded  in  his  lawless  course,  and  if  the 
sending  of  their  best  friends  to  join  with  him  proved  a  pitfall  to  them,  it 
would  necessitate  future  forbearance,  whatever  the  consequences  might 
be,  as  it  would  "  make  not  only  the  powerful  friends  of  Governor  Win- 
throp,  but  all  New  England,  his  (Leisler's)  enemies,  for  Winthrop's  char- 
acter was  too  well  known  to  be  drawn  into  question  or  disrepute  by  his 
(Leisler's)  conduct  towards  him."  * 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Court  in  October,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  offered  :  "  The  court  having  heard  &  considered  a  narrative 
from  the  Honble  Major-General  John  Winthrop,  of  his  proceedings  with 
the  army  at  Wood  Creek;  &  the  reasons  of  his  proceeding  no  further 
than  the  Houtkill  or  Wooden  Creek  in  that  design.  Capt.  James  Fitch 
&  Captain  Daniel  Withered  are  appointed  to  return  him  the  thanks  of 
the  court,  for  his  good  service  to  their  Majesties  &  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut ;  &  to  assure  him  that  on  all  seasonable  occasions,  they  will  be 
ready  to  manifest  their  good  resentment  of  his  fidelity,  valour  &  pru- 
dence, already  manifested,  &  help  farther  promised  if  occasion  required." 
Forty  pounds  was  then  awarded  him  as  a  further  testimony  of  their 
acceptance  and  thankfulness  for  his  good  services,  f 

Captain  Ebenezer  Johnson,  with  Major  Gold,  John  Burr,  and  Joseph 
Bastard,  of  Fairfield,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  and  audit 
Commissary  Blackleach's  account  with  the  country.  Isaac  Hall  of  Fair- 
field  was  voted  thirty  pounds  for  his  services  as  surgeon  to  the  soldiers, 
ten  shillings  a  week  for  the  services  of  his  son,  "  &  forty  shillings  to 
clear  his  charges  in  the  house."  Rev.  Charles  Chaunccy,  of  Pequonnock, 
as  chaplain  of  the  Connecticut  forces,  was  granted  twenty  shillings  a  week. 
Each  trooper  was  granted  two  shillings  six  pence  a  day  ;  captains,  four 
shillings  ;  lieutenants,  three  shillings  six  pence  ;  cornet  players  and  quar- 
termasters, three  shillings  ;  trumpeters,  two  shillings  nine  pence,  and  cor- 
porals, two  shillings  nine  pence  a  day.  It  was  further  ordered  that  two 
shillings  a  week  should  be  allowed  for  every  horse  used,  and  four  pounds 
for  every  horse  lost  in  the  late  expedition.  A  soldier  "  having  providen- 
tially lost  his  arms,"  was  to  be  paid  their  full  value  out  of  the  public 
treasury.  Every  soldier  who  deserted  the  army,  or  fled  from  his  colors, 
forfeited  half  of  his  wages,  and  if  a  servant,  he  was  to  make  reparation 
by  a  longer  service.  All  such  soldiers  and  servants  were  to  answer  for 
their  delinquencies  at  a  county  court.  The  soldiers  in  each  plantation 
were  to  bring  their  arms  and  ammunition  to  the  meeting-house  on  the 

*  Trumbull's  Hist,  of  Conn.,  I.,  575. 
f  Col    Rec.  of  Conn.,  IV.,  38. 


262  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1690 

Sabbath,  and  all  public  days  of  worship,  when,  and  as  often  as  the  county 
major  or  chief  military  officer  in  any  town  should  appoint,  under  a  penalty 
of  five  shillings.  The  dragoons  were  disbanded,  and  ordered  to  return  to 
their  former  foot  companies.  Major  John  Burr  and  Captain  Mat  hew 
Sherwood,  their  chaplain,  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey,  surgeon  Isaac  Hall,  and 
the  soldiers  of  the  town,  were  welcomed  home  with  great  rejoicing.  The 
release  of  Commissary  Blackleach  was  made  a  subject  of  sympathetic  dis- 
cussion. It  would  seem  difficult  to  attach  reproach  to  him,  and  none  was 
made  by  the  General  Court.  Besides  the  companies  sent  to  defend  Albany 
and  to  attack  Quebec,  a  band  of  soldiers  were  kept  on  the  Connecticut 
river  for  the  defense  of  the  county  of  Hampshire.  A  tax  of  four  pence 
upon  a  pound  was  levied  upon  the  towns  to  defray  the  debt  of  the 
colony.  Wheat,  Indian  corn  and  pork,  sent  from  Hartford  and  New 
Haven,  were  ordered  to  be  disposed  of  for  purchasing  necessary  ammu- 
nition, to  be  sent  to  the  county  towns  and  distributed  to  the  several 
towns  according  to  their  list  of  estates.  Major  John  Burr  and  Joseph 
Bastard,  were  appointed  on  a  committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the 
colonial  treasurer. 

A  law  to  prevent  the  escape  of  negro  slaves  from  the  colony  was 
passed  during  the  sitting  of  this  Assembly,  whereby  negro  servants 
found  escaping  or  wandering  out  of  the  town  to  which  they  belonged, 
without  a  ticket  or  passport  from  their  owners,  should  be  arrested,  brought 
before  proper  authorities,  and  returned.  A  penalty  of  twenty  shillings 
was  levied  upon  all  ferrymen  who  allowed  negroes  to  cross  their  ferries 
without  a  passport.  This  law  was  also  to  be  observed  towards  vagrants 
and  suspected  persons.  Free  negroes,  traveling  without  certificates,  were 
required  to  pay  their  own  fines.  It  appears  that  the  stringent  laws  passed 
for  promoting  Christianity  by  the  reforming  synods,  were  not  carried  out 
with  that  success  which  had  been  so  earnestly  desired. 

The  privileges  granted  by  the  Toleration  Act  (24th  May,  1689)  in  Eng- 
land, "  which  relieved  Protestant  dissenters  from  the  requirements  of 
the  Act  of  Uniformity  (1662)  &  gave  them  liberty  to  worship  with  open 
doors,  &  also  freed  them  from  the  penalties  of  a  non-attendance  at 
church  "  as  before  stated,  had  its  influence  in  New  England.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  the  General  Court,  "  finding  to  their  sorrow,  that  instead  of 
the  reformation  aimed  at,"  vice  and  corruption  increased  more  than 
ever;  "&  fearing  if  the  Lord  in  his  mercy  &  sovereign  grace"  did  not 
prevent  the  growing  evils,  "  they  might  at  length  prove  an  incorrigible 
people,  &  so  a  generation  of  his  wrath  without  remedy,  ripened  for 
deserved  desolation,  ...  so  obvious  to  all  by  cruel  war  &  sick- 


1690]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  263 

ness,"  resolved  once  more  not  only  to  recommend  all  the  magistrates, 
select-men  and  commissioners  of  the  several  plantations  in  the  colony, 
as  well  as  the  constables  and  grand  juries,  to  carefully  attend  and 
carry  out  the  orders  and  reformed  laws  passed  in  1684,  with  "other  good 
&  wholesome  laws,  that  so  our  government  &  rulers  may  be  a  terror  to 
evil  doers,  as  in  our  first  times,  that  the  Lord  may  yet  take  pleasure  in 
us  as  a  people."  The  court  also  further  recommended  the  ministers  in  all 
the  churches,  "  by  their  holy  labors  "  to  further  to  their  utmost  endeavor 
the  great  work  of  reformation.  Thus  the  magistrates  of  Connecticut 
sought  to  cleanse  Fairfield,  as  well  as  all  the  other  towns  in  the  colony,  of 
every  evil  provoking  to  the  wrath  of  the  Most  High.  The  Bible  being 
their  daily  companion,  and  regarding  themselves  like  the  Israelites  of  old, 
a  chosen  people,  led  by  the  guiding  hand  of  the  Almighty  into  a  wilder- 
ness, to  establish  a  church  and  government  upon  the  principles  of  truth 
and  righteousness,  they  sought  to  govern  the  colony  according  to  these 
principles,  and  to  purify  every  individual  family,  from  that  of  the  richest 
planter  to  the  humblest  cottage  of  the  poor  man,  even  to  the  wigwam  of 
the  savage,  from  every  social  and  moral  vice.  In  the  breast,  however,  of 
every  son  and  daughter  of  America  dwelt  the  one  great  principle  of 
religious  and  political  liberty,  which,  with  the  New  England  colonists,  had 
been  the  watchword  of  every  civil  and  ecclesiastical  movement,  since 
the  dawn  of  the  Reformation.  At  no  previous  time,  since  the  Reforma- 
tion had  all  classes,  except  the  Romanists,  enjoyed  a  greater  degree 
of  freedom  in  England  than  at  the  present.  The  dissenters,  who  had 
been  compelled  to  worship  with  closed  doors  in  the  mother  country, 
now  not  only  assembled  with  open  doors,  but  were  protected  from  moles- 
tation. In  Connecticut,  however,  none,  as  yet,  were  free  to  worship  openly, 
save  in  the  established  church  of  the  colony.  Nor  is  this  a  matter  of 
surprise,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  aim  of  the  early  New  England 
planters  was  to  make  this  country  a  home  for  all  who  dissented  from  the 
Church  of  England  and  from  the  fiery  rule  of  Catholicism.  They  had 
much  yet  to  struggle  through,  and  much  to  contend  with. 

At  the  General  Court  in  May,  a  petition  was  presented  by  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Pequonnock,  or  the  east  farmers,  "  that  they  might  have  liberty  to 
procure  a  minister  among  themselves,  &  be  freed  from  paying  the 
minister  at  Fairfield." '  This  petition  was  presented  to  the  court  by 
Lieutenant  James  Bennet,  of  Pequonnock,  and  signed  with  forty-six 
names,  t  Major  Gold  and  John  Wakeman  objected,  upon  the  ground  that 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  29. 

f  Ecclesiastical  Records,  State  Archives,  I.,  105-130. 


264  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1691 

the  Pequonnock  planters  had  not  first  applied  to  the  magistrates  of  Fair- 
field,  and  as  Lieutenant  Bennet  did  not  make  it  appear  that  he  had  been 
empowered  to  petition  in  behalf  of  Fairfield,  the  court  recommended, 
"  the  town  of  Fairfield  &  the  people  of  Pequonnock  to  meet  lovingly 
together  about  the  matter,"  .  .  .  and  they  would  confirm  or  ratify 
what  should  be  mutually  agreed  upon. 

Particular  attention  was  paid  by  the  Assembly  at  this  time  to  further 
educational  interests  in  the  several  towns  in  the  colony.  It  appears  that 
notwithstanding  the  orders  requiring  all  children  as  well  as  servants  to 
attend  school,  there  were  many  persons  unable  to  read  in  English, 
and  thereby  incapable  of  reading  the  Bible  or  "  the  good  laws  of  the 
colony,"  in  consequence  of  which  the  court  decreed  "  that  all  pastors  & 
masters  should  cause  their  respective  children  &  servants  to  read  dis- 
tinctly the  English  tongue  ;  "  and  that  the  grand  jurymen  in  each  town 
should  once  a  year  visit  each  family,  and  satisfy  themselves  whether  all 
children  under  age  and  servants,  were  making  due  progress  in  learning.  If 
it  was  found  that  parents,  guardians  or  masters  neglected  this  law,  their 
names  were  to  be  sent  in  to  the  county  court,  where  they  were  to  be  fined 
twenty  shillings  for  each  child  or  servant  who  had  not  been  sent  to 
school,  "  unless  the  child  or  servant  was  proven  incapacitated  to  learn." 
Town  schools  were  to  be  kept  up  where  such  had  already  existed,  and 
were  exempt  from  fine,  provided  they  were  open  six  months  in  the  year, 
for  the  education  of  all  such  children  and  servants  as  were  engaged  in  the 
summer  months  in  the  fields.  Two  free  schools  were  ordered  to  be  main- 
tained by  the  colony,  one  at  Hartford  and  one  at  New  Haven,  for  all  such 
scholars  who  could  "first  read  the  psalter,"  to  be  taught  "  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  Latin  &  Greek."  The  masters  of  these  free  schools  were  to 
be  chosen  by  the  magistrates  and  ministers  of  the  counties  of  Hartford 
and  New  Haven,  and  their  salaries  were  fixed  at  sixty  pounds  in  county 
pay,  thirty  pounds  of  which  was  to  be  paid  out  of  the  school  revenue  of 
Hartford  and  New  Haven,  but  first  by  the  gifts  of  individuals  as  far  as 
they  would  go.  These  schools  were  the  first  Latin  schools  of  Connecticut. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  23d  of  March,  Thomas  Morehouse  was 
given  liberty  to  erect  a  mill  at  the  foot  of  the  creek,  near  the  house  of 
John  Davis.  Thomas  Merwin  was  also  granted  a  piece  of  land  near  the 
same  place,  to  erect  a  tan  vat.  At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  and 
Major  John  Burr  were  elected  assistants,  Jehu  Burr  and  Samuel  Ward 
deputies,  and  Captain  Jehu  Burr  commissioner  for  Fairfield.  Jehu  Burr 
was  also  appointed  to  administer  the  commissioner's  oath  to  the  newly 
elected  commissioners  of  Stratford,  Norwalk,  Stamford  and  Greenwich. 


1691]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  265 

Owing  to  a  great  scarcity  of  salt  and  other  importations  during  the  late 
war,  for  the  encouragement  of  salt-making,  the  Assembly  offered  to  give 
an  exclusive  patent  for  ten  years,  to  any  person  familiar  with  the  art,  and 
possessing  a  sufficient  estate,  for  establishing  salt  works.  Small  quantities 
made  in  families  for  private  use,  were  exempt  from  this  law.  A  long  dis- 
pute between  Dr.  Isaac  Hall  and  his  brother  Samuel,  was  at  this  time 
brought  before  the  Assembly.  The  complaint  of  Samuel  Hall  was  to  the 
effect  that  his  brother,  Dr.  Isaac,  had  seized  certain  lands  belonging  to 
him,  and  had  not  only  used  high  language,  "  but  many  violences  &  threat- 
enings,"  and  also  resisted  ail  means  used  in  the  common  law  for  his  pro- 
tection. The  Assembly  ordered  a  summons  to  be  issued  and  served  upon 
Dr.  Isaac  Hall,  for  his  appearance  before  the  next  court  of  assistants. 
Considerable  delay  having  been  experienced  in  cases  of  appeal  from  the 
county  courts  to  the  court  of  assistants  held  after  the  General  Court  in 
May,  it  was  voted  that  the  court  of  assistants  should  be  held  the  Monday 
before  the  General  Court  of  election,  "whereby  all  appellants  from  the 
court  of  assistants  might  be  more  speedily  issued."  No  change  was  made 
in  the  October  term. 

Mr.  James  Porter,  of  London,  had  been  employed  in  the  interests  of 
the  colony,  and  several  letters  had  been  received  from  him  ;  also  one  from 
the  Rev.  Increase  Mather;  therefore  a  vote  of  thanks  was  ordered  to  be 
sent  them,  and  also  a  request  that  they  would  present  the  former  letter  of 
Connecticut  to  their  majesties,  acquaint  them  with  losses  they  had  sus- 
tained in  the  defense  of  their  colonies  in  America,  which  had  prevented 
them  from  sending  a  more  liberal  supply  of  money  for  proper  agents  to 
represent  their  cause,  and,  if  not  already  done,  to  endeavor  to  procure  the 
favor  of  the  king  and  queen  in  accepting  them  under  their  charter.*  The 
Bill  of  Rights,  which  was  passed  in  England  on  the  I3th  of  February,  1689, 
provided  that  no  charter  granted  before  the  23d  of  October  should  be 
impeached  or  made  invalid  by  the  passage  of  this  bill,  but  remain  of  the 
same  force  and  effect  in  law,  "  &  no  other  than  as  if  this  act  had  never  been 
made."  f  The  charters  of  the  city  of  London  and  other  corporations  were 
restored.  Upon  the  question  being  raised  as  to  the  legality  of  the  charter 
of  Connecticut,  the  following  questions  were  submitted  to  some  of  the 
most  learned  legal  gentlemen  in  England  : 

"Query,  Whether  the  charter  belonging  to  Connecticut,  in  New  England,  is,  by 
means  of  their  involuntary  submission  to  Sir  Edmund  Andres's  government,  void  in  law, 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  52,  54.     State  Archives,  Foreign  Correspondence,  II.,  22-27. 
f  Students'  Hume,  p.  548. 


266  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1691 

so  as  that  the  king  may  send  a  governor  to  them,  contrary  to  their  charter  privileges,  when 
there  has  been  no  judgment  entered  against  their  charter,  nor  any  surrender  thereof  upon 
record  ? 

I  am  of  opinion,  that  sucli  submission,  as  is  put,  in  this  case,  doth  not  invalidate  the 
charter,  or  any  of  the  powers  therein,  which  were  granted  under  the  great  seal  ;  and 
that  the  charter  not  being  surrendered  under  the  common  seal,  and  that  surrender  duly 
enrolled  of  record,  nor  any  judgment  of  record  entered  against  it,  the  same  remains  good 
and  valid  in  law  ;  and  the  said  corporation  may  lawfully  execute  the  powers  and  privileges 
thereby  granted,  notwithstanding  such  submission,  and  appointment  of  a  governor  as 
aforesaid.  EDWARD  WARD. 

2nd.  August  1690. 

I  am  of  the  same  opinion.  J.  SOMERS. 

I  am  of  the  same  opinion  ;  and  as  this  matter  is  stated,  there  is  no  ground  of  doubt. 

GEO.  TREBY."  * 

This  gave  great  joy  to  all  the  Connecticut  planters,  and  to  none  more 
than  to  the  planters  of  Fairfield.  The  second  Thursday  in  June  was 
appointed  a  day  of  general  fasting  and  prayer  that  God  would  bless  their 
designs  upon  their  enemies  and  the  disturbers  of  the  progress  of  their 
religious  peace  ;  and  that  he  would  bless  their  Majesties  and  prosper  their 
councils  in  behalf  of  the  colony. 

During  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly  in  May,  Captain  Jehu  Burr  pre- 
sented a  petition  for  increasing  the  number  of  free  grammar  or  Latin 
schools  in  the  colony,  by  granting  one  in  each  of  Fairfield  and  New  Lon- 
don counties;  but  the  court,  after  twice  hearing  the  bill  read,  decided  that 
they  saw  no  reason  to  make  any  alteration  in  the  law  passed  for  two  free 
schools  in  the  colony.  At  the  same  time  the  Pequonnock  planters  reso- 
lutely pushed  their  efforts  to  establish  a  church  and  school  within  their 
limits.  From  the  following  town  record,  it  does  not  appear  that  they 
carried  out  the  advice  of  the  General  Court  in  "  discoursing  lovingly 
together"  : 

"  April  27.  1691,  We  the  inhabitants  of  Pequonnock  being  warned  to  a  town  meet- 
ing held  in  Fairfield,  &  notwithstanding  that  one  end  for  which  it  was  warned  is  to  hire  a 
school-master  in  the  town  of  Fairfield,  we  the  inhabitants  of  Pequonnock,  at  a  general 
meeting  thereof,  have  thought  £  met  to  declare  our  own  protest  against  a  dislike  of  such 
a  thing,  &  that  for  many  reasons  inducing  thereto,  £  instead  of  many  that  might  be  men- 
tioned, let  these  two  satisfy,  because  the  law  hath  enjoined  to  half  a  year  only,  &  as  to  a 
•  grammar  school  totally  freed  us  ;  we  moreover  have  already  hired  a  school-master  among 
ourselves  for  the  instruction  of  children,  which  are  not  able  to  come  to  any  school  that  is 
served  in  Fairfield.  Wherefore  the  inhabitants  of  Pequonnock  do  desire  that  this  our 
protest  may  be  entered  £  recorded,  that  this  is  our  protest  against  having  a  school  in  the 
town  of  Fairfield,  we  do  set  our  hands,  Signed.  May  6.  1691  ;  Mathew  Sherwood  jr, 

v 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  407. 


iCgi]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  267 

Samuel  Gregory,  Joseph  Seely,  Richard  Hubbell  sr,  Moses  Jackson  sen,  John  Odell  jr, 
Timothy  Wheeler,  Ephraim  Wheeler,  Samuel  Hall,  Samuel  Treadwell,  Nathaniel  Sher- 
wood sen,  James  Bennit  sen,  Richard  Hubbell  jr,  James  Bennit  jr,  Thomas  Morehouse  sen." 

They  renewed  their  petition  on  the  !4th  to  the  May  Assembly,  when 
opposition  of  the  strongest  character  was  raised  by  Major  Gold,  Captains 
John  and  Jehu  Burr,  and  Deputy  Samuel  Ward.  Nothing  daunted,  the 
same  month  the  petitioners  of  Pequonnock  renewed  their  application  to  be 
made  a  separate  society,  and  also  asked  that  a  minister  might  be  settled 
among  them.  The  General  Court  recommended  that  both  parties  should 
meet  and  arrive  at  "  a  loving  agreement  among  themselves,  with  the  best 
advice  they  can  come  at  in  the  mean  time."  Before  the  adjournment  of 
the  court,  however,  the  petitioners  were  so  successful  as  to  receive  liberty 
"  to  procure  &  settle  an  orthodox  minister  among  them,  if  they  found 
themselves  able  to  do  so,  provided  they  paid  their  just  proportion  of  the 
ecclesiastical  tax  towards  the  maintenance  of  the  ministry  in  Fairfield, 
until  they  could  obtain  freedom  from  the  town  of  Fairfield  or  the  General 
Court."  In  October  they  were  still  more  successful,  as  the  General  Court 
released  them  from  paying  towards  the  support  of  a  minister  at  Fairfield, 
provided  they  paid  their  just  dues  to  that  church  up  to  the  8th  of  the  same 
month. 

Party  feeling  ran  so  high  that  no  less  than  twenty-four  questions,  of  a 
most  remarkable  nature,  were  presented  to  the  court.  They  were  in  the 
hand-writing  of  Judge  Gold,  remonstrating  against  such  a  separation,  and 
were  as  follows  : 

1.  "  Whether  laws,  charters  or  grants  are  of  any  value,  or  whether  corporations,  socie- 
ties or  peculiar  persons  can  call  anything  their  own  ? 

2.  \Vhether  the  town   of  Fairfield   be   outlawed,  or  whether  or  no  it  hath  any  right  or 
interest  in  that  grant  to  townships  ? 

3.  Whether  leaping  over  the   laws  &  trampling  down  the  liberty  of  the  subjects  be 
not  tyrannical  power  ? 

4.  If  laws,  charters   &   grants  may  be  broken  at  will   &   pleasure,  are  we  any  longer 
safe  in  our  lives,  liberties  or  estates,  but  by  it  lie  open  to  the  furious  invasion  of  all  that  is 
ruinous  &  calamitous  ? 

5.  Whether  that  grant  unto  townships  be  not  one  of  the   sweetest  flowers  in  the  gar- 
den of  the  laws,  to  whom  we  owe  the  flourishing  prosperity  of  a  well  governed  town  ? 

6.  Whether    it  be  according  to  rules   on   equity,  that   this,  one   of  your  first  born,  a 
lovely  beautiful  child,  should  be  disinherited  £  lose  its  birthright  to  an  inferior  brat  ? 

7.  Whether  it  be  not  horrible  &   ridiculous  to  bring  grants,  liberties  &  privileges,  on 
record  into  a  Chancery  or  Ecclesiastical  Court  to  be  determined  ? 

8.  Whether  it   be  not  opposed  to  equity,  law  &  justice  that  any   persons    or  courts 
should  be  pulling  down   ye  walls  of  God's  Providence,  in   which  'their  own  hands  were 


268  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

building,  £  that  endeavors  should  be  made  to  call  down  those  privileges  with  which  your- 
selves have  enriched  us,  whether  this  be  not  laying  the  ax  to  the  root  of  our  liberties  ? 

9.  Whether  the  king  may,  without  infringement  on  our  liberties,  enjoin   us   to   enter- 
taine  an  Episcopal  minister  in  every  town,  &  the  one  half  of  every  town  to  contribute  to 
his  maintenance  ? 

10.  If  we   dare  be   clipping  the  privileges  of  our  recorded  grants,  may  not  the  king 
take  the  example  against  us,  &  we  cannot  but   say  in  our  own  mouths,  for  such  measure 
as  we  measured  shall  be  measured  to  us  again  ? 

11.  When   kings  &   princes  have  openly    violated    their  plighted   faith  to  their  sub- 
jects, whether  their  subjects  have  not  frequently  thrown  up  their  allegiance  ? 

12.  When   the  will  governs  &   directs  where   no   law  provides,   whether  that  be  not 
arbitrary  power,  or  else  the  apostle  misses  it  when  he  saith,  where  there  is  no  law  there  is 
no  transgression  ? 

13.  Whether    arbitrary   power  be  not  a  contagious,   ketching  distemper,  &   whether 
the  most  £  best  of  men  in  authority  are  not  apt  to   be   tainted   &   infected   by   it,    without 
good  looking  after  ;  &   is  it  not  observed   where   arbitrary  power  predominates,  it  either 
makes  the  subjects  slaves  or  enrolls  the  kingdom  in  blood  ? 

14.  Whether  it  be  not  our  concern  to   look   about  us  that  it  creep  not  insensible  upon 
us,  &  whether  or  no  that   hand   deserves  to   be  cut  off  that  is   held   up  to  vote  arbitrary 
power  ? 

15.  Whether  it  be  not  more   honorable  &  just  to  give  a  shilling  of  a  man's   own,  than 
2o£  of  another  person's,  or  whether  the  proverb  be  not  false  that  saith,  some  persons  will 
cut  large  thongs  out  of  other  men's  leather? 

16.  Whether  or  no  the  lopping  off  of  a   fruitful   limb  at  an   unseasonable   time  of  the 
year,  will  not  endanger  the  life  of  the  flourishing  tree  ? 

17.  Whether  the  casting  up  of  plantation   shreds,  £  making  priests  of  the  meanest  of 
the  people,  be  not  the  way  to  bring  clown  the  reputation  of  religion  ? 

1 8.  Whether  the  sitting  up   of  a   Court   order  (with  a  not  withstanding)  in  opposition 
to  a  fundamental  grant,  will  not  make  civil  wars  amongst  our  laws  ? 

19.  Whether  those  freemen  of  whom  (the  body  of  this  Court  is  made   up)   can  grant 
other  oaths  to  the  laws   of  this  colony  with  any  safety,  if  they  should  let  any  law  lie  dor- 
mant or  unregarded,  whilst  other  orders  be  made  to  cut  that  short  ? 

20.  Whether  or  no  if  you  take  this  branch  of  our  privileges  from  us,  may  we  not  take 
another,  &  so  to  the  end  of  the  chapter,  &   our  so  much   boasted    of  privileges  will  be  no 
more  than  a  vain  shadow  or  an  emty  shell  ? 

21.  If  this  honorable  Court  should,  out   of   extraordinary  zeal,  discharge  those  of  Pe- 
quonnock  from  paying  any  of  our  town   dues,  whether  or  no  the  wholesome  laws  enacted 
by  the  same  power,  still  in  force  &  vigor,  are  repealed,  will   not  help  us  to  our  money  & 
credit  again  ? 

22.  If  the  settling  of  plantations   &  gathering  churches   be   found   a  powerful  way  & 
means  to  advance  God's  glory,  &  the  people's  good,  what  may  be  thought  of  those,  who, 
instead  of  gathering  churches,  make  havoc  &  shipwreck,  pull  them   in  pieces,  &  instead 
of  making  two  churches  of  one,  they  mar  both  ? 

23.  Whether  religion  can  thrive  when  the  peace  of  a  place  is  lost  ? 

24.  Whether  there  be  not  a  woe  pronounced  against  them  by  whom  offences  come  ?  " 

The  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey,  son  of  the  Rev.  Israel  Chauncey,  of  Strat- 


CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  269 

ford,  and  grandson  of  President  Charles  Chauncey,  of  Harvard  College, 
preached  to  the  people  of  Pequonnock,  either  in  the  school-house  or  in 
the  dwellings  of  the  planters,  from  about  the  year  1688,  when  not  engaged 
as  a  chaplain  and  surgeon  in  the  expeditions  sent  out  against  the  French 
and  Indians.  He  became  very  popular  among  them,  and  they  invited  him 
at  this  time  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  a  permanent  pastor.  Without 
delay  they  proceeded  to  erect  a  small  church.  The  spot  selected  was, 
according  to  the  custom  of  those  days,  on  one  of  the  most  prominent  hills 
in  the  village,  which  commanded  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding  country 
and  Long  Island  Sound,  and  was  situated  on  Division  street,  a  short  dis- 
tance south  of  the  king's  highway,  still  known  as  Meeting-House  hill. 
The  members  of  this  first  church  of  Stratfield  were  as  follows  : 

"The  names  of  those  who  have  renewed  the  Covenant,  &  personally  subjected  them- 
selves to  the  government  of  Christ  in  His  church,  &  particularly  in  this  Church  ;  together 
with  ye  time  of  yr  doing  it." 

Edward  &  Mary  Treadwell  23.  Dec.  1695.  Mary  Rennet  ye  wife  of  James  Bennet  ye 
shipwright  10.  May  1696.  Sarah  wife  of  Ephraim  Wheeler  31.  Jan.  1696.  Samuel 
Wells.  Benjamin  Fairweather.  Mathew  Sherwood  jr.  Daniel  Beardsly.  Elijah  Crane. 
Nathaniel  Porter.  William  Beardsly.  Samuel  Smedly.  Samuel  Summers.  John  Beardsly. 
John  Tredwell.  Samuel  Wheeler.  Samuel  Odell.  Ebenezer  Beardsly.  Benjamin  Beardsly. 
Samuel  Gregory.  Joseph  Bennet.  Nathaniel  Knap.  Jonathan  Wakely.  Mary  Sher- 
wood to  8.  Feb.  1697.  Rebecca  Sealey,  John's  wife.  Mary  Odell.  Sarah  Hubbell.  Joanna 
Walker.  Abigail  French.  Elizabeth  Jackson.  Rebecca  Beardsly.  Hannah  Odell  d.  ot" 
John  Sr. ,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Seely,  &  1706  of  Isaac  Sterling.  Abigail  Summers.  Mary 
Beardsly.  Ruth  Treadwell.  Abigail  Gregory.  Ruth  Wheeler.  Ruth  Wakely.  Samuel 
&  Martha  Tredwell  1698.  Isaac  Bennet  &  wife.  John  £  Deborah  Burr  1700. 

COMMUNICANTS. 

The  names  of  such  as  have  been  received  to  full  communion  in  this  church  who  wt-re 
not  before  in  full  communion  elsewhere. 

Joseph  &  Sarah  Seely  8.  Dec.  1695.  Hannah  Sherman  &  Susanna  Hall  5.  Jan.  1695-*. 
Edward  Preston  29.  March  1696.  Abel  &  Elizabeth  Bingham  10.  May  1696.  Joanna 
Sherwood  21.  Sept.  1696.  Rebecca  Wheeler  25.  Oct.  1696.  Sarah  Chauncey  20.  Dec. 
1696.  James  &  Sarah  Bennet  7.  Nov.  1697.  Samuel  French  8.  March  i697-8.  John  Odell 
Senr  &  Samuel  Tredwell  sr.  20  Feb.  1697-*.  Mary  Odell  jr.  29.  May  1698.  Rebecca  Wheeler 
&  Isaac  Wilson  28.  Aug.  1699.  Abigail  French  22.  April  1699.  Mary  Crane  22.  Oct. 
1699.  Jane  Hall  7.  April  1700. 

The  names  of  those  that  were  afterwards  received  by  letters  dismissary  or  recom- 
mendatory from  other  churches  were  as  follows.  From  Fairfield  : 

Mary  Sherwood.  Ann  Wheeler.  Mary  Odell.  Rebecca  Gregory.  Ruth  Tredwell. 
Mercy  Wheeler.  Abigail  Wells.  Elizabeth  Sherwood.  Sarah  Odell.  Their  letter  was 
accepted  &  accepted  Anno.  1695.  From  Stratford  :  Abigail  wife  of  Richard  Hubbell 
senr.  Mary  wife  of  James  ITubl>ell.  Abigail  Bearclsley  wife  of  Samuel.  Abigail  Wakely 
clau.  of  Henry,  married  Paul  Gregory  Junr  |  Temperance  wile  of  Richard  Hubbell  jr. 
Their  letter  read  &  accepted  10.  July  1693.  Concord — Joseph  \Vheeler  20.  Dec.  1697  & 


2/0  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1692 

accepted  20.  Dec  1697.  |  Mary  Jackson  of  Norwalk,  her  letter  read  20.  Dec.  1697,  & 
accepted  20.  Dec.  1697.  |  Concord  —  Stratford-Hannah  Fairchild  10.  Sept.  1699.  read  & 
accepted  10  Sept  1699.  !  Thomas  Hawley,  his  letter  read  &  accepted.  |  Mary  wife  of 
John  Beardsly  of  Fairfield,  her  letter  read  &  accepted  26.  July  1702.  Woodbury — Abi- 
gail Tredwell  of  Woodbury  accepted  24.  Nov.  1704.  |  Concord — Sarah  Whitacus  17.  June 
1705.  Charleston — Zacheriah  Ferris  9.  Sept.  1705.  Stratfield  Parish  Records. 

At  the  October  term  of  the  Assembly,  Captain  John  Wakeman,  and 
Eliphalet  Hill  acted  as  deputies  in  place  of  Jehu  Burr  and  Samuel  Ward. 
Eliphalet  Hill  was  appointed  on  a  committee  to  perfect  the  lists  of  persons 
and  estates  in  the  several  towns  in  the  colony.  Major  Gold  and  Captain 
John  Burr  were  appointed  to  audit  the  constables'  account  of  Stratford. 
A  tax  of  three  pence  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  all  the  towns  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  colony,  to  be  paid  as  follows  :  in  wheat,  peas,  Indian 
corn,  and  rye  ;  winter  wheat,  4^.  6d.  ;  peas,  2s.  6d.  ;  Indian  corn,  2s.  6d. 
per  pushel ;  pork,  ^3,  los.  per  barrel,  and  beef  40^.  per  barrel;  or  one-half 
of  the  above  value  in  current  money  of  New  England.  A  portion  of  this 
tax  was  to  be  appropriated  towards  paying  the  Connecticut  soldiers,  who 
had  been  sent  to  protect  Deerfield  and  Northfield  from  the  ravages  of  the 
Indians.  The  case  of  Dr.  Isaac  Hall  and  his  brother  Samuel,  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  hearing  of  Governor  Treat,  Major  Gold,  and  Captain  John 
Burr. 

Upon  application  from  Governor  Bradstreet,  for  assistance  in  maintain- 
ing a  garrison  in  the  frontier  towns  of  Maine  and  New  Haven,  a  special 
Assembly  met  at  Hartford  on  the  iQth  of  November,  when  the  ministers 
of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony  were  recommended  to  call  upon  the 
people  to  contribute  liberally  towards  this  purpose.  These  contributions 
were  to  be  sent  to  the  deacons,  and  by  them  speedily  conveyed  from  the 
seaport  towns  to  the  garrison  and  poor  families  left  in  the  exposed  towns. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1692,  Fairfield  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
death  of  its  second  pastor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman.  His  life  had  been 
one  of  great  usefulness,  not  only  in  the  town  but  in  the  colony.  His 
opinions  in  the  leading  ecclesiastical  questions  of  those  times  were  sought 
and  valued.  Intellectually  he  was  a  man  of  superior  ability.  He  possessed 
great  energy  of  character,  which  was  zealously  and  unwearingly  used  for 
the  good  of  both  church  and  state.  He  was  highly  honored  and  beloved 
by  his  parishioners,  among  whose  descendants  his  memory  is  cherished 
to  this  day.  It  now  became  necessary  to  settle  a  new  minister.  Among 
the  town  records  is  to  be  found  the  following  vote : 

"Whereas  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  of  Fairfield  is  deceased,  who  died  on  the  8.  of 
March  1692,  which  bereavement  is  for  a  lamentation,  y«  said  town  of  Fairfield  for  to  enclea- 


1692]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  2/1 

vor  to  supply  in  the  ministry,  being  met  together  on  the  31.  of  March  1692,  do  order  by  vote 
to  nominate  a  person  for  the  ministry  by  papers,  which  being  done  the  nomination  fell  to 
Mr.  Harriman."*  A  letter  of  invitation  was  ordered  to  be  written  to  this  gentleman,  "  to 
come  over  (probably  from  New  Haven)  to  Fairfield,  for  a  further  discourse  in  reference  to 
settling  him  in  the  ministry.''  Nathan  Gold,  John  Sturgis  and  John  Osborn  were  appointed 
to  write  the  letter  ;  and  John  Thompson  was  chosen  l%  to  be  sent  as  the  messenger." 

In  the  mean  time,  while  the  town  was  without  a  settled  minister,  Major 
Gold  was  appointed,  "  to  provide  &  supply  for  carrying  on  the  Sabbath 
by  some  person  or  persons  to  preach,  until  some  other  provision  to  be 
made  at  the  town's  cost."  It  appears  from  the  records  that  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  instead  of  Mr.  Thompson,  carried  the  letter  to  Mr.  Harriman,  and 
that  he  was  allowed  ten  or  twelve  shillings  to  defray  his  expenses  to  and  fro 
from  New  Haven.  Nathan  Gold,  Jehu  Burr,  John  Sturges,  Sergeant  Seely, 
John  Osborn,  and  Sergeant  John  Thompson  were  appointed  to  discourse 
with  Mr.  Harriman  "  in  regard  to  his  being  settled  in  the  ministry  at 
Fairfield."  Failing  to  obtain  this  gentleman's  services,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Davenport  of  New  Haven  was  nominated,  but  "  the  town  did  declare,  by 
a  vote,  that  they  saw  no  cause  to  invite  Mr.  Davenport  to  settle  among 
them.  "  At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  "  to  give  Mr.  Joseph  Webb  a  call, 
he  declaring  to  their  satisfaction  what  his  practice  might  be  as  to  baptism." 
At  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  23d  of  May,  "  the  town  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  ministry  in  Fairfield,"  voted  "  to  leave  it  to  the  present  towns- 
men to  purchase  Barlow's  lot,  lying  near  the  town-house,  to  be  the  parson- 
age forever,  provided  it  can  be  bought  for  seventy  pounds  in  pay."f  On 
the  29th  of  July,  Captain  John  Burr,  Jonathan  Gold,  sr.,  and  John  Thompson 
were  appointed  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Webb,  and  upon  his  satisfying  them 
about  his  views  in  regard  to  baptism,  to  offer  him  ninety  pounds  a  year, 
with  the  use  of  the  parsonage  land  and  a  house,  "  providing  he  maintain 
said  house,  when  it  is  fully  furnished,  while  he  so  continues  a  minister 
among  us." 

At  the  same  time  the  town  granted  to  Mr.  Chauncey,  of  Pequonnock, 
three  acres  of  land  on  the  north  side  of  his  home-lot.  In  case  he 
died  in  the  ministry  at  Pequonnock,  it  was  to  go  to  his  heirs.  On  the 
9th  of  August  following,  the  committee  reported  favorably  of  Mr.  Webb 
to  the  townsmen,  who  had  assembled  at  the  town-house.  All  who  were 
in  favor  of  his  being  chosen  pastor  of  Christ's  Church  were  asked  to  hold 

*  The  Rev.  John  Harriman,  whose  father,  John  Harriman,  was  an  inn-keeper  in  New  Haven, 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Richard  Bryan  of  Milford,  and  between  1690  and  1692  settled  at 
Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  that  place. — Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary. 

f  B,  Town  Votes,  p.  98. 


272  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1692 

up  their  hands,  "  which,"  added  Nathan  Gold,  jr.,  the  town  recorder, 
"  was  a  full  vote,  a  very  few  or  none  voting  against  it,  for  I  observed 
&  saw  that  none  voted  against  it." 

Nathan  Gold,  Captain  John  Burr,  and  John  Thompson,  were  appointed 
"  in  the  name  &  behalf  of  the  town  to  give  Mr.  Webb  a  call.  Jonathan 
Morehouse  &  Samuel  Squire  were  chosen  to  remove  Mr.  Webb  with  his 
family  &  goods  to  Fairfield  at  the  town's  cost."  Under  this  last  record  is 
the  following  entry :  ''It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Webb  &  his 
family  came  to  Fairfield,  on  a  Thursday,  at  night,  being  the  13.  of  October 
1692."*  From  the  particular  attention  paid  to  Mr.  Webb's  views  on 
baptism,  and  froin  his  church  record,  it  is  evident  that  a  majority  of 
the  townsmen  favored  what  was  called  the  half-way  covenant,  which  for 
many  years  was  sanctioned  by  the  ministers  of  Fairfield.  By  this  provision 
the  children  of  non-communicants  who  accepted  the  church  covenant 
before  the  congregation,  were  baptized. 

At  the  May  election  Major  N.  Gold  and  Captain  John  Burr  were  chosen 
assistants;  Captain  Mathew  Sherwood  and  Mr.  Nathan  Gold  f  deputies, 
and  Jehu  Burr  commissioner  for  Fairfield.;}; 

The  French  having  made  a  descent  upon  Block  Island  during  the  pre- 
ceding year,  caused  great  alarm  among  the  people  of  New  London,  Ston- 
ington  and  Saybrook.  In  each  of  these  places  the  fortifications  were 
garrisoned  with  recruits,  and  put  in  a  state  of  defense.  Rumors  that  the 
French  and  Indians  were  about  to  cross  Lake  Champlain  and  attack  the 
plantations  in  that  region,  gave  rise  to  renewed  anxieties  throughout  New 
England.  The  Assembly  ordered  scouts  to  be  sent  out  to  discover  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  The  governor  and  any  two  assistants  were 
appointed  to  manage  and  direct  the  scouts  of  New  Haven  and  Fairfield 
counties.  Three  shillings  a  day  was  allowed  a  man  and  horse  for  this 
purpose.  Grover's  hill,  at  Fairfield,  was  probably  fortified  and  manned 
to  defend  the  harbors  of  the  town.  Samuel  Squire  was  appointed  at  a 
town  meeting  held  on  the  i/th  of  May  "to  fence  across  the  highway  by 
"  Gravers  Hill,  so  called,"  on  the  east  side  of  the  creek  by  ye  creek  in  two 
places,  about  25  rods  asunder,  provided  he  make  &  maintain  bars  suitable 
while  he  so  fenceth,  for  people,  horse  &  cart  to  pass  as  occasion  required  ; 
this  to  stand  during  the  town's  pleasure."  An  important  vote  was  also 
passed  at  this  meeting  in  regard  to  fencing  the  public  highways.  Lieuten- 
ant Hall  and  Sergeant  John  Thompson  were  made  a  committee  "to  settle 

*  B,   Town  Votes,  p.   98. 

f  Mr.  Nathan  Cold  was  the  only  son  of  Major  Nathan  Gold. 

JCol.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  65,  66. 


1692]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  273 

or  stake,  or  stone  ye  highway  out,  so   that    they  may  be  known,  specially 
at  or  about  Pequonnock  in  ye  woods." 

The  Indian  land  at  Rocky  neck  in  Sasco  field  at  the  mouth  of  Mill 
river,  was  also  to  be  bounded  out  to  the  Indians.  The  point  or  neck  of 
land  on  the  west  side  of  Mill  river,  in  the  Sasco  field,  which  had  been 
reserved  by  the  town  for  a  ship-yard,  and  called  Joseph  Palmer's  neck,  was 
ordered  to  be  bounded  out.*  Every  person  owning  fence  in  the  common 
line  of  fence  in  the  common  field,  was  ordered  within  ten  days  to  set  a 
stake  at  each  end  of  his  fence  in  the  line,  with  the  initial  letters  oj^  his 
name  distinctly  marked  upon  them.  The  highways,  on  the  west  side  of 
Mill  river  were  to  be  laid  open,  and  made  free  for  grazing  the  cattle  of 
the  town  for  six  months.  John  Beardsley  of  Stratford,  was  invited  to  set 
up  the  trade  of  a  smith  at  Fairfield. 

An  unusual  excitement  prevailed  throughout  the  town  about  this  time. 
Sir  William  Phipps  notified  Governor  Treat,  on  the  2Oth  of  June,  of  his 
safe  arrival  at  Boston  from  England,  with  the  Massachusetts  charter,  and 
of  his  appointment  as  governor  of  that  province.  He  also  informed  him 
that  he  had  been  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia,  land  and 
sea  forces  in  the  colonies  of  New  England.  He  requested  that  some  per- 
son might  be  sent  to  meet  him  at  Boston,  who  should  be  prepared  to  give 
an  account  of  the  militia  forces,  forts,  etc.,  with  the  names  of  their 
chief  officers,  within  the  limits  of  Connecticut.  Governor  Treat  immedi- 
ately convened  the  General  Court,  which  met  at  Hartford  on  the  22d  of 
June.  An  answer  was  returned  to  Governor  Phipps'  letter,  in  which  the 
court  expressed  their  surprise  at  the  contents  of  his  letter  in  regard  to  the 
army  and  sea  forces  ;  but  that  he  must  be  aware  that  under  their  chartef, 
the  government  of  the  militia  was  vested  in  the  governor  and  company  of 
the  colony,  who  had  faithfully  exercised  that  power;  that  having  no  direct 
orders  from  the  king  and  queen  of  England,  they  knew  of  no  better  \vay 
to  govern  the  colony,  than  that  which  their  charter  afforded  ;  but  that 
they  were  willing  according  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  to  contribute  their 
aid  to  anything  tending  to  the  common  safety  of  the  country. 

Fairfield  was  never  more  astir  than  at  this  time.  This  new  infringe- 
ment of  their  chartered  liberties  was  discussed  at  ever}'  fireside  ;  Major 
Gold,  now  well  advanced  in  years,  with  Major  Burr  and  the  deputies  of 
their  town,  had  already  expressed  their  approval  of  the  message  sent  to 
Governor  Phipps,  and  calmly  awaited  further  developments.  A  second 
cause  of  excitement  prevailed  to  an  alarming  extent.  Witches,  after  a 

*  This  neck  is  probably    the    point    which    lies    opposite    the  breakwater  at  Southport. — B, 
Town  Votes,  p.  97. 

i3 


274  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

lapse  of  forty  years,  had  again  embodied  themselves  in  some  of  the  women 
of  the  town.  Mercy  Disborow  of  Compo,  Goody  Miller,  goodwife  Eliza- 
beth Clawson,  and  Mrs.  Staples,  had  been  indicted  for  familiarity  with 
Satan.  So  great  was  the  mass  of  evidence  against  them,  and  the  number 
of  witnesses  so  large,  that  at  the  special  session  of  the  General  Court,  the 
governor,  deputy-governor,  and  assistants,  numbering  seven  at  least, 
were  granted  a  term  of  oyer  and  terminer,  at  Fairfield  on  the  second 
Wednesday  in  December.  The  coming  of  the  governor  and  so  many  of 
the  assistants,  added  to  the  prestige  of  the  case,  and  probably  the  women, 
save  Mrs.  Staples,  had  never  figured  more  conspicuously  before  the  public. 
Mrs.  Staples  after  a  lapse  of  more  than  forty  years  since  her  first  trial,  was 
again  accused  of  being  a  witch,  but  once  more  proved  too  clever,  even  for 
the  governor  and  his  seven  judges. 

The  supposed  witches  were  tried  before  the  governor  and  the  assist- 
ants and  judges  of  the  General  Court,  but  the  jury  failed  to  agree  in  ren- 
dering a  verdict.  An  account  of  what  had  been  done  was  related  by 
Governor  Treat  before  the  General  Court  in  October,  when  it  was  decided 
that  a  new  trial  should  take  place  at  Fairfield  as  soon  as  possible,  so  that 
a  verdict  might  be  obtained,  upon  which  the  court  should  render  a  final 
issue.  John  Wakeman  and  Nathaniel  Burr  acted  as  deputies  at  the  fall 
session  of  the  Assembly.  Major  Gold  was  granted  fifteen  pounds  for  his 
services  to  the  colony  during  the  year.  On  the  iQth  of  September  a 
special  court  of  oyer  and  terrniner  was  again  held  at  Fairfield  to  try  the 
women  accused  of  witchcraft.  Governor  Treat,  Deputy-Governor  William 
Jones,  Secretary  John  Allin,  Assistants  Andrew  Leete  of  New  Haven, 
John  Burr  of  Fairfield,  William  Pitkin  of  Hartford  and  Moses  Mansfield  of 
New  Haven,  occupied  the  bench. 

The  grand  jurors  impaneled  were  Joseph  Bayard,  Samuel  Ward, 
Edward  Hayward,  Peter  Ferris,  Jonas  Waterbury,  John  Bowers,  Samuel 
Sherman,  Samuel  Gilpin,  Ebenezer  Booth,  John  Platt,  Christopher  Corn- 
stock,  and  William  Reed.  The  petit  jury  were  James  Beers,  Isaac 
Wheeler,  John  Osborn,  John  Miles,  Ambrose  Thompson,  John  Hubby, 
John  Bowton,  Samuel  Hayes,  Elcazer  Slawson,  John  Belding,  John  Wake- 
man, and  Joseph  Rowland.  Mercy  Disborow,  Goody  Miller,  Elizabeth 
Slawson,  and  Mrs.  Staples,  were  arraigned  before  this  august  body  of 
magistrates  and  sworn  jurors.  The  charges  made  against  them  were,  as  in 
all  of  the  witch  cases,  of  the  most  absurd  character.  The  testimony  given 
in  was  "very  voluminous."  About  two  hundred  depositions  were  taken. 
The  women  were  pronounced  to  be  guilty  of  witchcraft ;  but  that  none  of 
them  might  suffer  innocently,  it  was  decided  to  try  a  plan,  which  had  been 


1692]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  275 

adopted  at  Hartford,  of  throwing  them  into  a  river  or  pond,  under  the 
superstition  that  if  they  sank  under  the  water  they  were  innocent  of  the 
charge  brought  against  them  ;  but  if  they  floated,  they  were  veritable 
witches,  fit  only  for  condemnation  and  death. 

Whether  this  test  was  performed  at  Hyde's  pond,  or  at  Edward's  pond 
on  the  meeting  house  green,  is  not  stated  ;  but  "  four  witnesses  swore,  that 
Mercy  Disborow,  being  bound  hand  &  foot  &  put  into  the  water,  swam 
like  a  cork,  though  one  labored  to  press  her  down."  Elizabeth  Clawson 
also  floated. 

The  court  again  assembled  at  Fairfield  on  the  28th  of  October,  when 
fresh  testimony  was  taken.  Elizabeth  Clawson,  Goody  Miller,  and  Mrs. 
Staples  were  acquitted;  but  Mercy  Disborow  was  found  guilty.  The  jury 
were  sent  out  a  second  time  to  reconsider  their  verdict ;  but  they  returned 
to  the  court  room,  and  the  foreman  stated  "  that  they  saw  no  reason  to 
alter  it,  but  found  her  guilty  as  before.  The  court  approved  of  their 
verdict,  &  the  governor  passed  upon  her  the  sentence  of  death."  Her 
sentence,  however,  v/as  not  satisfactory  to  a  majority  of  the  people  in  the 
town.  Their  zeal  for  hanging  witches  appears  to  have  been  satisfied,  when 
the  simple-minded  woman,  Goodwife  Knapp,  ended  her  life  on  the  scaffold 
to  satiate  the  ignorance  and  fanatical  bigotry  of  her  neighbors,  in  which 
then,  as  in  the  present  instance,  the  leading  and  most  learned  and  pious 
magistrates  of  the  colony  concurred.  To  the  credit  of  the  more  enlight- 
ened townsmen  of  Fairfield,  however,  a  petition,  exhibiting  considerable 
intelligence,  was  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  in  her  behalf,  setting 
forth  weighty  reasons  why  she  should  be  pardoned.*  The  petition  appears 
to  have  been  granted,  as  she  was  living  in  1707,  in  which  year  her  hus- 
band's will  was  probated,  and  she  is  mentioned  as  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Disborow.f  In  the  summer  of  this  year  Fairfield  lost  another  of  her  most 
distinguished  public  men,  in  the  death  of  Captain  Jehu  Burr.  The  pages 
of  this  history  give  many  proofs  of  his  great  usefulness  in  the  town,  in  the 
General  Courts,  and  particularly  in  King  Philip's  war,  during  which  time 

*  An  account  of  this  case  of  witchcraft  was  published  in  the  Connecticut  Mirror,  The  Xeiu 
York  Commercial  Advertiser  for  July  I4th  and  15th,  and  re-printed  in  the  Ne-v  York  Spectator 
July  iSth,  and  in  the  Times  and  Weekly  Advertiser,  of  Hartford,  Aug.  8th,  1820,  by  the  late 
William  L.  Stone,  of  Hartford,  then  editor  of  the  Connecticut  Mirror. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  IV., 

76,  77- 

f  Mercy  Disborow  appears  to  have  been  a  daughter  of  the  widow  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  by  a 
former  marriage.  In  a  sale  of  land  made  by  Thomas  Disborow  of  Compo,  about  1688.  the  consent 
of  his  mother-in-law,  Susannah  Jones,  and  that  of  his  wife.  Mercy  Disborow,  was  obtained.  Let- 
ter A,  Town  Deeds,  p.  622.  Susannah  Jones  sold  out  her  right  in  her  husband's  parsonage  at 
Fairfield  to  Thomas  Bennet,  soon  after  Mr.  Jones'  death,  and  moved  to  Compo. 


2/6  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [l693 

he  was  made  a  commissioner,  and  invested  with  great  power.  The  renown 
of  his  family  had  increased  in  luster  almost  from  the  time  of  the  landing 
of  his  father,  Jehu  Burr,  at  Boston. 

Upon  due  deliberation  it  was  thought  advisable  to  consult  with  Mr. 
Webb  about  a  parsonage,  and  to  learn  if  he  would  be  willing  to  reside  in 
the  town-house.  On  the  2d  of  January  his  rate  was  fixed  at  "one  penny 
on  the  pound."  At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  to  give  him  the  town- 
house  "  for  his  encouragement  in  the  ministry  in  Fairfield,  he  relieving 
said  town  from  finding  or  providing  him  an  house  to  live  in.  He  is  to 
take  it  as  it  is;  &  if  he  die  in  the  ministry  in  Fairfield,  said  house  is  to  be 
his  own."  If  he  left  the  place,  then  the  town-house  and  the  land  belong- 
ing to  it  were  to  return  to  the  town  ;  and  he  was  to  be  paid  back  what 
money  he  had  spent  upon  it.  When  Mr.  Webb  had  been  in  Fairfield  about 
a  year,  he  received  a  call  to  another  parish  ;  but  so  well  satisfied  were  the 
townsmen  with  him,  that,  at  a  public  meeting,  held  on  the  /th  of  Decem- 
ber following,  it  was  by  vote  manifested  that  he  should  continue  among 
them,  and  take  his  office  charge  upon  him,  that  they  may  be  in  a  settled 
way,  "  &  that  he  might  be  under  a  necessary  tie  to  them  in  said  work." 
The  sum  of  ten  pounds,  ten  shillings,  was  added  to  his  salary  "  instead  of 
allowing  him  wood,  so  long  as  he  continued  in  the  ministry  in  Fairfield." 

To  settle  a  minister  in  those  days  was  an  important  undertaking.  It 
was  not  a  matter  of  a  few  months  or  a  year  or  so,  but  a  life  settlement,  "  a 
necessary  tie."  The  careful  investigation  made  to  learn  the  views  of  Mr. 
Webb  on  the  subject  of  baptism,  and  to  know  that  he  was  fully  approved 
by  all  the  town's  men,  commends  to  the  present  generation  an  example  of 
wisdom,  prudence,  and  watchful  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  churches,  worthy 
of  imitation.  In  the  month  of  May  the  General  Court,  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  learning  in  the  colony,  granted  the  counties  of  New  London  and 
Fairfield  twenty  pounds  each  towards  maintaining  grammar  schools. 

The  fears  which  had  so  long  been  entertained  of  a  continued  war  with 
the  French  and  Indians  were  realized,  when  it  was  learned  that  Count 
Frontenac  had  attacked  the  forts  of  the  Mohawks  with  remarkable  success, 
but  having  been  pursued  by  Colonel  Schuyler,  of  Albany,  at  the  head  of 
a  brave  band  of  two  hundred  English  volunteers,  had  escaped  back  into 
Canada.  Application  from  New  York  was  made  to  Governor  Treat  to 
dispatch  without  delay  two  hundred  men  with  arms,  ammunition,  and  pro- 
visions to  Albany  for  the  defense  of  his  Majesty's  colonies.  A  General 
Court  was  convened  at  Hartford  on  the  2ist  of  February,  when  it  was 
resolved  to  raise  150  men,  of  whom  fifty  were  to  be  dragoons.  Thirty-five 
of  these  were  to  be  supplied  from  Fairfield  county.  John  Miles,  of  New 


1693]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  277 

Haven,  was  appointed  captain,  James  Bennit,  of  Fairfield,  lieutenant,  and 
Manassa  Minor,  of  Stonington,  ensign  of  the  company.  Captain  John 
Burr  was  appointed  commissary  for  Fairfield  county.  The  troopers  with 
their  officers  were  ordered  to  meet  at  Hartford  complete  in  their  arms  on 
the  following  day  by  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  furnished  and  ready  to 
march.  A  few  days  later,  still  another  dispatch  was  sent  to  Governor 
Treat  from  Governor  Phipps,  demanding  the  assistance  of  one  hundred 
men,  and  fifty  Indians  to  defend  the  eastern  towns,  and  to  defeat  the 
fishing  and  planting  of  the  eastern  Indians.  A  special  Assembly  met  on 
the  6th  of  March,  when  it  was  voted  to  send  Governor  Phipps  a  company 
of  sixty-four  men  and  thirty  Indians,  to  be  placed  under  the  command  of 
Captain  William  Whiting,  of  Hartford.  A  garrison  of  forty  or  fifty  men 
was  also  sent  up  to  defend  the  upper  river  towns.  An  extra  tax  of  a  penny 
on  the  pound  was  levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  expedition,  upon 
the  credit  of  which  the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  borrow  money  for  their 
immediate  necessity.  At  the  May  election  Major  Gold  and  Captain  John 
Burr  were  chosen  assistants,  Isaac  Wheeler  deputy,  and  Nathan  Gold,  jr., 
commissioner  for  Fairfield.  Major  Gold  was  appointed  to  administer  the 
commissioner's  oath  to  the  county  commissioners. 

It  was  during  the  sitting  of  this  Assembly  that  the  following  law  in 
regard  to  juries  was  passed.  All  juries  when  impaneled  and  sworn  into 
the  court,  having  heard  the  pleas  and  evidences  for  and  against  trials  of 
capital  and  criminal  cases,  should  immediately  withdraw  themselves  into 
some  convenient  room  or  place  appointed  by  the  court,  under  the  care  of 
some  fit  officer  ;  "  &  there  abide  until  they  had  agreed  upon  a  verdict  ;  " 
unless  some  difficult  question  arose  about  the  charge  given  them,  when 
they  should  be  allowed  to  return  to  the  court-room  for  further  light  or 
information,  and  immediately  "  return  &  abide  in  their  room,"  until  they 
had  decided  upon  a  verdict.  A  fine  of  twenty  shillings  was  imposed  upon 
any  juror,  warned  and  returned  to  serve  on  a  jury,  absent  without  giving 
good  reason.  A  fine  of  twenty  shillings  for  contempt  of  court  was  laid 
upon  any  person  refusing  to  answer  a  summons  of  attachment  upon  his 
property,  as  well  as  the  necessary  costs  of  a  hearing  to  the  judges  in 
attendance  at  the  court  for  his  time,  etc.  A  law  was  also  passed  that  when 
persons  were  imprisoned  for  debt  or  any  other  misdemeanor,  they  should 
be  supplied  by  the  person  who  caused  them  to  be  imprisoned,  with  food, 
if  nothing  more  than  bread  and  water,  which  was  afterwards  to  be  repaid  to 
the  plaintiff. 

For  the  unhappy  law  which  required  persons  to  be  imprisoned  for  taxes 
or  debts,  the  court  provided  a  mittimus  to  be  sent  to  the  prison  keeper, 


2/8  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD  [1693 

requiring  him  to  keep  them  in  prison.  No  execution  for  the  future  was  to 
be  considered  legal  "  on  any  other  estate,  but  as  in  a  late  law  about  rates, 
wherein  lands  were  exempt."*  Executors  and  administrators  were 
allowed  2s.  6d.  for  every  estate  of  fifty  pounds;  5.?.  for  estates  not  exceed- 
ing £200,  and  los.  all  above  £200. 

Again  the  military  officers  of  Fairfield  shared  with  those  of  the  other 
towns  iu  the  colony,  a  further  cause  of  righteous  indignation,  in  a  demand 
for  their  control  by  Colonel  Fletcher,  who  had  been  appointed  governor  of 
New  York.  He  arrived  from  England  on  the  2Qth  of  August,  1692,  vested 
with  plenary  power  for  commanding  the  whole  militia,  of  Connecticut,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  etc.  This  was  a  new  dilemma,  and  between  the 
authority  given  Governor  Phipps  and  Governor  Fletcher,  the  colony 
seemed  in  a  fair  way  to  be  drained  of  its  militia  as  well  as  of  its  wealth. 
As  Governor  Fletcher  insisted  upon  assuming  the  authority  with  which  he 
was  vested,  Governor  Treat  assembled  the  General  Court  at  Hartford  on 
the  first  of  September.  John  Wakeman  and  Isaac  Wheeler  represented 
Fairfield.  A  memorial  with  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  signa- 
tures was  presented  to  the  Assembly,  requesting  that  their  Majesties  be 
petitioned  for  the  control  of  their  militia  and  their  chartered  privileges; 
and  that  each  town  should  share  the  expense  of  sending  an  agent  to 
England.  Major  Fitz  John  Winthrop  was  chosen  for  the  undertaking, 
and  the  Rev.  Gurdon  Saltonstall  of  New  London  was  invited  to  accompany 
him.  t 

A  penny  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  the  towns  of  the  colony  to  defray 
the  expense  of  sending  Major  Winthrop  to  England,  by  the  2Oth  of  Sep- 
tember at  farthest.  An  agent  was  also  sent  to  New  York,  to  seek 
reconciliation  with  Governor  Fletcher.  The  Assembly  met  again  on  the 
I2th  of  October.  Major  Gold,  as  assistant,  John  Wakeman  and  Nathaniel 
Burr  were  present  from  Fairfield.  Major  Gold  was  granted  15  pounds 
for  his  good  services  during  the  year.  A  tax  of  ^d.  on  the  pound  was 
levied  to  defray  the  current  expenses  of  the  colony,  which,  with  the  army 
taxes,  amounted  to  6d.  on  the  pound.  It  was  about  the  23d  of  the  month, 
while  the  Assembly  was  still  in  session,  that  Governor  Fletcher  addressed 
a  letter  to  them  from  New  Haven.  He  had  landed  at  New  Haven,  and 
sent  a  messeger  forward,  requesting  the  court  not  to  adjourn  until  he 

*  A  law  was  passed  in  Oct. ,  1682,  exempting  land  from  execution,  while  there  was  personal 
estate  to  cover  the  debt  ;  nor  could  an  execution  be  served  between  May  and  November,  except 
for  rates  and  fines. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  III.,  no. 

f  State  Archives,  Foreign  Correspondence,  II.,  39,  40.  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  101,  102. 
Trumbull's  Hist  of  Conn.,  I.,  411,  412. 


1693]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  2/9 

should  arrive  at  Hartford.  He  had  sent  his  horses  by  another  sloop,  and 
was  hourly  expecting  them.  On  the  26th  he  arrived  at  Hartford  and  sent 
a  letter  by  Colonel  Bayard  to  the  Assembly,  in  which  he  styled  himself 
"Their  Majesties'  Captain  General  &  Governor  in  Chief,  in,  &  over  the 
Provinces  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  &c. ;  &  Commander  in  Chief  of 
the  militia,  &  of  all  the  forces,  by  sea  &  land,  within  their  majesties  colony 
in  Connecticut,  &  of  all  the  forts  &  places  of  strength  within  the  same.'' 
He  demanded  a  speedy  surrender  of  the  militia  of  the  colony,  and  ordered 
out  the  militia  of  Hartford,  that  he  might  drum  up  recruits.  The 
Assembly  insisted  that  the  militia  was  under  their  command  ;  nevertheless 
the  train-bands  were  summoned  out.  Again  Fletcher  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  Assembly,  assuring  them  that  he  had  no  designs  whatever  upon 
their  civil  rights,  and  "that  he  would  not  set  a  foot  out  of  the  colony 
until  he  saw  obedience  paid  to  his  commission  "  by  all  such  as  were  loyal 
subjects  of  their  Majesties;  promising  he  would  distinguish  those  who 
acknowledged  his  authority.  Governor  Treat  was  tendered  a  commission 
for  the  command  of  the  militia  of  Connecticut,  which  he  refused  to  accept, 
and  with  the  Assembly  sent  a  reply,  that  not  having  received  orders  from 
their  Majesties  to  surrender  their  chartered  liberties,  they  conceived  their 
duty  to  the  king  and  queen,  as  well  as  to  themselves,  "  to  continue  the 
militia  as  formerly,  till,  by  their  agent,  then  on  his  way  to  England,  they 
should  receive  further  orders "  direct  from  William  and  Mary.  They 
assured  him  that  they  were  willing  to  render  every  possible  assistance  in 
the  defense  of  their  Majesties'  colonies  ;  and  that  although,  besides  the  loss 
of  lives,  they  had  already  expended  about  five  thousand  pounds  for  the  de- 
fense of  Albany,  they  were  yet  willing  to  grant  six  hundred  pounds  more. 
Meanwhile  the  train-bands  assembled,  and  the  tradition  is,  that  while 
Captain  Wadsworth  was  exercising  the  men  in  military  drill,  Governor 
Fletcher  ordered  his  commission  to  be  read.  Colonel  Wadsworth  immedi- 
ately commanded,  "  Beat  the  drums!  "  at  which  the  drummers  filled  the 
air  with  a  deafening  roar.  Governor  Fletcher  shouted,  "  Silence  !  "  and 
again  attempted  to  read  ;  when  Colonel  Wadsworth  shouted,  "  Drum,  drum 
I  say !  "  The  drummers  instantly  beat  with  their  utmost  skill.  Again 
Governor  Fletcher  commanded  "Silence!"  With  a  stern  and  angry 
countenance,  and  tones  not  to  be  misunderstood,  Colonel  Wadsworth  once 
more  gave  the  command,  "  Drum,  drum  I  say  !  "  and  turning  to  Governor 
Fletcher  he  said,  "  If  I  am  interrupted  again,  I  will  make  the  sun  shine 
through  you  in  a  moment  !  "  Alarmed  at  the  fire  in  his  eyes,  and  by  his 
resolute  manner,  Governor  Fletcher  desisted  from  any  further  efforts, 
either  to  read  his  commission  or  to  attempt  enlisting  men.  A  large  body 


280  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1694 

of  men  and  women,  with  angry,  defiant  looks  and  mutterings,  caused  him 
to  feel  that  he  would  be  safer  within  the  limits  of  New  York ;  and  he 
accordingly  took  leave  of  the  invincible  New  Englanders  with  feelings  of 
great  indignation,  and  vows  of  future  vengeance. 

In  response  to  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Assembly  from  King  William, 
for  men  and  arms  to  be  sent  to  fortify  Albany,  a  special  court  was  con- 
vened on  the  /th  of  February.  Major  N.  Gold,  Captain  John  Burr,  and 
Nathaniel  Burr  were  present.  The  offer  of  six  hundred  pounds  to  Colonel 
Fletcher  was  voted  to  be  collected  and  sent  without  delay  to  Albany.  A 
penny  on  the  pound  was  levied  upon  Fairfield  and  the  other  towns  for 
this  purpose.  Orders  were  issued  that  every  town  in  the  colony  subject 
to  attack  from  the  enemy,  especially  the  border,  river  and  harbor  towns, 
should  be  speedily  strengthened  and  prepared  to  resist  invasion.  Fifty 
bushels  of  wheat  in  each  county  was  ordered  to  be  gathered  and  made 
into  biscuit,  to  be  ready  for  use  should  any  sudden  emergency  arise  for 
sending  out  forces.  The  train-bands  were  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  pro- 
tect the  towns,  or  to  march  to  New  York  if  the  French,  as  it  was  feared, 
should  make  an  attack  upon  the  island.  During  the  time  of  this  war, 
Fairfield  and  all  the  seaport  towns  on  the  ocean  and  Long  Island  Sound, 
were  held  in  constant  dread  of  an  attack  from  French  vessels  of  war. 
Every  vessel  which  appeared  in  sight  was  closely  scrutinized,  lest  it  might 
belong  to  the  enemy. 

John  Perry,  the  mail  carrier's  return  from  Boston  and  New  York  was 
eagerly  looked  for;  when,  in  the  few  moments  allowed  him  for  delivering 
the  mail,  he  gave  them  the  latest  news.  Men  and  women  gathered  round 
him,  some  out  of  simple  curiosity,  and  others  to  hear  from  those  who  had 
been  sent  to  defend  some  one  of  the  various  posts  of  danger.  But  a  few 
moments  elapsed,  however,  when,  supplied  with  a  fresh  horse,  capable  of 
speed,  he  was  on  full  gallop  for  Norwalk  and  Stamford,  or  for  New  Haven 
and  Hartford.  Before  another  month  passed,  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield 
mourned  with  heart-felt  grief  the  death  of  Major  Nathan  Gold.  The 
town  records  give  the  following  notice  of  his  death  :  "  Major  Nathan  Gold 
departed  this*  life  into  the  mansions  of  rest  upon  the  Day  of  Rest,  on  the 
Sabbath, -it  being  the  4,  of  March  1693X4."  Almost  since  his  coming  to 
Fairfield,  for  nearly  forty  years,  Major  Gold  had  been  a  leader  in  the 
political,  military,  and  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  town  and  colony,  a  father 
to  the  town,  and  it  had  increased  in  thrift  and  renown  under  his  guiding 
wisdom  and  influence.  His  name  for  many  years  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
list  of  assistant  judges  of  the  General  Court.  Under  his  supervision,  band 
after  band  of  soldiers  was  equipped  with  arms,  ammunition  and  provisions, 


1694]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  28 1 

and  sent  to  the  various  fields  of  action  to  which  they  had  been  ordered. 
He  saw  vessels  laden  with  supplies  for  these  expeditions  sail  out  of  Black 
Rock,  Bridgeport,  and  Mill  River  harbors  for  Saybrook,  New  London, 
Providence,  Boston,  and  New  York.  In  every  critical  emergency,  either 
in  foreign  or  domestic  relations,  he  was  called  upon  to  take  an  active  part. 
His  native  intelligence,  courtly  bearing,  natural  suavity  and  winning  man- 
ners, made  him  a  fit  person  to  be  sent  as  an  ambassador,  on  many  occa- 
sions of  importance,  to  the  councils  of  the  courts  of  the  neighboring  colo- 
nies ;  and  on  special  matters  of  interest  to  counsel  with  the  governors  of 
New  York.  He  was  frequently  made  the  executive  head  of  affairs,  when 
the  magistrates  of  New  York  had  occasion  to  seek  for  counsel  and  assist- 
ance from  the  colony  ;  in  fact,  his  position  as  the  leading  judge  and 
military  commander  of  Fairfield  county,  was  one  in  which  he  exercised  an 
influence  almost  equal  to  that  of  the  governor  himself.  In  the  largeness 
of  his  executive  ability,  and  in  his  quick  conception  of  the  best  and  most 
efficient  way  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  town  and  colony,  he  stood 
unrivaled.  In  the  functions  of  his  numerous  offices,  he  tempered  justice 
with  mercy.  No  man  in  the  country  was  more  respected  or  honored 
than  Major  Gold,  and  none  in  New  England  stood  higher  in  the  esteem  of 
the  Lords  of  the  Council  Chamber  at  Whitehall.  As  a  statesman  he  had 
but  few  superiors.  He  was  keenly  alive  to  the  perplexities  involved  in 
establishing  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  was  cautious  to  preserve 
a  respectful  attitude  to  the  orders  of  the  reigning  kings,  who  had  occupied 
the  throne  of  England  in  the  course  of  his  public  career.  He  accumulated 
a  handsome  fortune  during  his  residence  in  Fairfield,  and  was  the  largest 
land  holder,  and  called  the  richest  man  in  the  town.  He  was  a  stanch 
devotee  of  the  Congregational  church,  the  principles  of  which  he  defended 
with  the  earnestness  and  zeal  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived.  He  abhorred 
Popery,  and  was  a  bitter  opponent  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Every  tribute  of  respect  was  paid  to  the  memory  of  this  remarkable  man, 
so  much  honored  and  beloved  at  home  and  by  multitudes  throughout  the 
country.  The  day  on  which  he  died  was  made  one  of  deep  lamentation  in  the 
church  in  which  he  had  worshiped  for  forty-four  years.  Two  funeral  sermons 
were  preached  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Webb,  one  in  the  morning  and  one  in 
afternoon  of  the  following  Sunday,  from  the  I4th  verse  of  the  I3th  chapter 
of  II.  Kings  :  "  Now  Elisha  was  fallen  sick  of  his  sickness  whereof  he  died. 
And  Joash  the  king  of  Israel  came  down  unto  him  &  wept  over  his  face,  & 
said,  O  my  father!  my  father!  the  chariot  of  Israel,  &  the  horsemen 
thereof !  "* 

*  A  manuscript  of  these  sermons  is  in  the  possession  of   Mrs.  Elizabeth  Gould  of  Fairfield  ;  a 
descendant  of  Major  Nathan  Gold. 


282  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1694 

At  the  May  election  Captain  John  Burr  was  chosen  assistant,  Samuel 
Wakeman  and  Eliphalet  Hill  deputies,  and  Nathan  Gold,  jr.,  Captain 
Mathew  Sherwood  and  Samuel  Wakeman,  commissioners  for  Fairfield.  By 
order  of  the  king  and  queen,  new  post  office  regulations  were  established 
for  conveying  as  speedily  as  possible,  letters  and  packages  throughout  New 
England  for  the  special  service  of  their  Majesties.  Persons  employed  by 
the  post-master  general  in  the  various  post  towns  in  the  colony,  were 
given  liberty  to  pass  and  repass  ferries  free  of  expense. 

For  the  maintenance  of  the  public  forts  in  the  colony,  it  was  ordered, 
that  every  vessel  of  over  eight  tons  weight  entering  a  harbor  protected  by 
a  fort,  to  load  or  unload,  should  pay  to  the  officer  in  command  a  quarter 
of  a  pound  of  powder  for  every  ton.  Vessels  in  the  service  of  the  king 
and  queen  of  England,  entering  for  wood  and  water  were  exempt  from  this 
rule,  provided  they  remained  but  forty-eight  hours,  unless  prevented  from 
leaving  by  a  stress  of  weather.  Vessels  frequently  passing  and  re-passing 
were  only  required  to  be  cleared  twice  a  year.  This  was  called  powder 
money.  Joseph  Bastard  of  Fairfield,  was  made  one  of  a  committee  to 
audit  the  colony  accounts. 

The  year  of  1694  was  a  memorable  one  to  all  the  planters  of  Connecti- 
cut. Major-general  Winthrop,  reached  England  in  safety,  and  was  so 
fortunate  after  presenting  his  petition  of  the  Assembly  to  the  lords  of  the 
council  chamber,  as  to  succeed  in  having  a  carefully  written  statement  of 
the  case  of  Connecticut  laid  before  the  king.  The  main  features  of  the 
charter  were  duly  set  forth,  especially  the  right  vested  in  the  governor  to 
control  its  militia  ;  that  the  king's  lieutenants  could  only  draw  out  a  certain 
part  of  the  militia  in  proportion  to  its  numbers  and  wealth  ;  that  to  act 
otherwise  was  to  deprive  the  people  of  their  freedom,  which  ought  to  be 
regulated  by  an  act  of  Parliament;  for  which  reason  it  was  argued,  that 
Colonel  Fletcher's  commission  ought  to  be  restricted  by  the  laws  of  Con- 
necticut, so  long  as  they  were  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England.  It 
was  further  argued  that  it  was  impossible  for  any  one  belonging  in  another 
colony  or  province,  to  judge  of  the  condition  and  ability  of  each  town, 
as  could  a  military  officer  who  lived  in  the  colony  ;  nor  was  it  possible  for 
a  stranger  to  exert  as  much  influence  among  the  soldiers  as  one  who  had 
lived  among  them,  for  whom,  as  one  of  their  own,  they  entertained  those 
natural  feelings  of  pride  and  affection,  which  would  stimulate  them  to 
serve  the  interests  of  his  Majesty  in  time  of  need. 

The  king's  attorney  and  solicitor-general  gave  their  opinions  in  favor 
of  the  chartered  rights  of  Connecticut,  which  vested  the  control  of  the 
militia  in  the  governor.  It  was  decided  that  the  quota  of  Connecticut 


1694]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  283 

during  the  war  should  be  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  who  should  be 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Fletcher;  but  that  the  militia  of  the  colony 
should  be  under  the  command  of  the  governor  of  Connecticut. 

At  the  solicitation  of  the  governors  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York, 
that  Connecticut  would  send  agents  and  a  company  of  troops  to  join  their 
agents  at  Albany,  for  the  purpose  of  renewing  the  old  league  of  friend- 
ship with  the  Five  Nations,  the  governor  and  council  dispatched  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Allyn  and  Captain  Stanley,  with  a  guard  of  sixty  dragoons, 
commanded  by  Captain  Wadsworth,  to  attend  the  council.  The  money 
expended  in  this  expedition  cost  the  colony  ^4,000,  of  which  Fairficld  bore 
her  just  proportion.  A  tax  of  $d.  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  all  the  towns, 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony. 

Captain  John  Burr  was  appointed  sergeant-major  of  Fairfield  county. 
This  additional  honor  to  those  he  had  already  acquired,  was  paid  him  but 
a  few  days  before  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  i6th  of  the  month, 
while  still  in  the  prime  of  his  life  and  usefulness.  The  valuable  services 
rendered  to  the  town,  and  colony  and  to  the  country  in  Philip's  and  the 
French  and  Indian  wars,  by  Major  Burr,  have  been  so  thoroughly  inter- 
woven in  the  pages  of  this  work,  that  a  greater  eulogy  of  him  as  a  states- 
man, judge  and  soldier,  need  not  be  offered  here.  His  death,  with  that 
of  his  brother,  Jehu  Burr,  in  1692,  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  the 
same  year,  and  that  of  Major  Gold  in  March  of  this  year,  deprived  Fair- 
field  of  four  of  her  ablest  and  most  honored  citizens. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  Queen  Mary  died  of  small-pox.  The  respect 
entertained  for  her  in  New  England  was  very  great,  and  her  untimely 
death  was  made  an  occasion  of  public  manifestations  of  sorrow  and 
sympathy  for  the  king,  in  Fairfield,  and  in  every  town  in  the  colony. 

The  first  extant  parish  records,  which  commenced  with  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Webb's  ministry,  this  year,  explain  the  views  of  the  Fairfield  peo- 
ple as  to  baptism,  and  their  desire  to  become  acquainted  with  the  opinion 
he  entertained  upon  the  subject.  Mr.  Trumbull  states  "  that  notwith- 
standing the  result  of  the  synod  of  1662,  &  the  various  attempts  which  had 
been  made  to  introduce  the  practice  of  what  was  termed  "  Owning  the 
covenant,"  it  was  not  generally  observed  until  1696.  In  Fairfield,  how- 
ever, it  was  used  by  Mr.  Webb  immediately  after  entering  upon  the  care 
of  the  parish.  A  Renewal  of  the  Covenant,  is  found  in  the  early  pages  of 
Mr.  Webb's  record,  by  which  "the  children  of  parents  who  did  not  enter 
into  full  communion  "  were  baptized.  The  birth  and  marriage  records, 
however,  were  still  kept  by  the  town  recorder.  This  Renewal  of  the 
Covenant  was  not  always  the  same  in  power;  but  the  synod  allowed  the 


284  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1694 

churches  to  adapt  their  form  of  covenant  to  the  special  circumstances  of 
each  church."  *  The  covenant  used  by  Mr.  Webb  was  probably  the  same 
as  the  one  found  in  the  Green's  farms  and  Greenfield  parish  records, 
which  is  as  follows: 

"We  do  in  the  humble  sense  of  our  deep  un  worthiness  of  an  acknowledgement  in 
ye  Covenant  of  divine  grace,  £  also  our  inability  unto  the  performance  of  ye  duty  of  ye  holy 
covenant,  through  ye  strength  &  grace  of  Christ  alone,  heartily  &  sincerely  engage  £ 
promise  in  ye  presence  of  God  £  his  people,  denying  all  ungodliness  £  worldly  lusts,  to 
live  soberly,  righteously  &  Godly  in  this  present  world,  solemnly  devoting  ourselves  &  our 
seed  unto  ye  Lord  to  be  his  people  ;  avouching  Almighty  God  for  our  God  £  portion; 
avouching  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  our  Prophet  £  Teacher,  £  for  our  only  Priest  £ 
Propitiation,  £  for  our  only  King,  Lord  £  Lawgiver;  avouching  ye  Holy  Ghost  for  our 
sanctifier,  professing  our  subjection  to  ye  Gospel  of  Christ,  £  y'  we  will  walk  together  in  a 
companionable  attendance  upon  all  ye  ordinances  of  ye  Gospel,  £  in  a  member-like  Com- 
munion, happiness  £  watchfulness." 

"The  practice  of  owning  the  Covenant  by  people,"  says  Mr.  Trumbull, 
"  &  offering  their  children  in  baptism,  was  in  time  gradually  introduced 
into  most  of  the  churches  in  the  colony.  It  became  a  custom  for  the 
ministers  &  deacons  to  pay  annual  visits  to  every  family  in  the  town,  &  to 
warn  all  young  people  before  marriage,  to  publicly  subscribe  or  own  the 
covenant  ;  "  but  this  was  more  generally  done  after  they  became  parents, 
and  wished  to  have  baptism  administered  to  their  children,  "  though 
they  made  no  profession  of  religion,  &  neglected  the  Lord's  supper  & 
other  duties,  peculiar  to  members  in  full  communion  ;  "  and  this  was 
called  the  halfway  covenant. 

"  The  practice  of  relating  of  Christian  experiences,  £  admitting  none  to  full  commun- 
ion but  such  as  appeared  to  be  Christians  indeed,  yet  prevailed  ;  but  the  number  of 
church  members,  in  full  communion,  was  generally  small.  In  those  churches,  where 
owning  the  covenant  was  not  practiced,  great  numbers  of  children  were  unbaptized."  f 

After  the  renewal  of  the  covenant  in  1694  by  many  in  Mr.  Webb's 
church,  follows  other  names  of  persons  who  recognized  their  baptismal 
engagements.  In  the  "Record  of  Baptisms  "  families  of  children  were  bap- 
tized at  one  time,  as  for  instance  :  "  Joseph,  Richard,  Jonathan  &  Sarah," 
the  children  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Ogden  ; — (i  Mary,  Abigail,  Susanna  & 
Elizabeth,"  children  of  Abraham  Adams. 

At  the  sitting  of  the  General  Court  in  May,  "  Upon  the  humble 
request  of  Fairfield,  alias  Paquanaug,  that  they  might  have  liberty  to 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  325-327,  497.      Magnalia,  B.  V.,  p.  98. 
fTrumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  I.,  498. 


X&95]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  285 

join   themselves    in    church    order,"    the    Court    having   considered  their 
motion,  granted  their  request  : 

"  They  proceeding  in  an  orderly  way,  with  the  approbation  of  neighboring  churches  ; 
&  this  court  desire  they  may  have  the  blessing  of  God  accompanying  their  good  endeavors 
therein  ;  &  the  Court  do  grant  that  the  name  of  Paquanage  shall  be  altered  £  for  the  future 
it  shall  be  called  Fairfield  Village,  &  whereas  they  have  desired  liberty  to  choose  a  Soci- 
ety recorder,  this  Court  understanding  not  their  end  therein,  they  belonging  &  being  of 
the  towns  of  Fairfield  &  Stratford,  £  there  being  recorders  there  according  to  law,  this 
Court  see  no  need  of  any  others,  but  leave  them  at  liberty  to  make  record  of  their  own 
particular  affairs,  as  they  see  cause,  £  appoint  who  they  judge  most  suitable  to  make 
these  records,  always  provided  that  the  recorder  of  Fairfield,  is  the  only  proper  recorder 
of  Fairfield  &  the  village,  so  far  as  their  bounds  goes." 

As  a  part  of  the  village  was  composed  of  the  planters  living  on  the  east 
side  of  the  division  line  between  Pequonnock  and  Stratford,  it  was  for 
many  years  called  the  east  parish,  and  the  Fairfield  side  the  west  parish. 
According  to  the  wishes  of  the  parish  the  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey  now 
became  the  first  regularly  sanctioned  pastor  of  Fairfield  village.  At  the 
October  Assembly,  for  the  satisfaction  of  such  as  were  conscientiously 
desirous  of  being  married  by  their  minister,  liberty  was  granted  to  or- 
dained ministers  of  the  several  plantations  in  the  colony,  "to  join  in  mar- 
riage such  persons  as  were  qualified  for  the  same,  according  to  law." 

During  the  following  spring,  particular  attention  was  paid  to  laying  out 
lands  to  the  several  owners  of  Sasco-hill  ;  and  care  taken  to  preserve  the 
highways  running  across  the  hill  to  Kensey's  point,  and  across  the  new 
bridge  to  the  main  street  in  Fairfield.  Joseph  Bastard,  Robert  Rumsie, 
and  John  Bulkley,  were  appointed  to  renew  the  bounds  of  the  Mile  of 
Common  and  to  stake  out  the  highways  and  lands  belonging  to  the  town, 
by  setting  up  mere-stones.  Highways  were  also  laid  out  at  Fairfield 
woods,  at  which  place  was  a  noted  wolves'  swamp. 

At  the  May  election  Nathan  Gold,  the  only  son  of  Major  Nathan  Gold, 
was  advanced  to  the  office  of  an  assistant  judge  of  the  General  Court,  to 
supply  the  place  of  Major  John  Burr.  Nathaniel  Burr  and  Lieutenant 
James  Bennet  were  elected  deputies  ;  and  Captain  John  Wakeman  and  Cap- 
tain Mathew  Sherwood  commissioners.  The  law  passed  in  1682,  restricting 
the  orders  of  execution  of  fines,  etc.,  between  the  first  of  May  and  the  first 
of  November,  was  repealed,  and  it  was  now  made  legal  to  issue  writs  of 
execution  at  any  time  in  the  year.  Instead  of  estates  under  execution 
being  sold  at  an  outcry,  it  was  ordered  that  they  should  from  hence- 
forth be  sold  only  after  an  appraisal,  rates  and  fines  excepted.  Joseph 
Bastard  was  again  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  audit  the  accounts 
of  the  treasurer  of  the  colony. 


286  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1695 

Owing  to  the  increase  of  intemperance  among  all  classes,  a  law  was 
passed  restricting  the  sale  of  liquors  and  wines,  strong  beer,  and  even 
cider,  to  such  only  as  were  licensed  to  entertain  strangers  and  travelers, 
under  a  fine  of  2Os.  for  each  offense.  A  license  could  be  obtained  only 
from  the  county  court,  under  a  bond  of  ten  pounds,  for  keeping  order 
and  good  conduct.  An  addition  was  made  to  the  powder  money  law, 
which  obliged  all  masters  of  vessels,  except  such  as  belonged  to  the 
colony,  "  before  they  broke  bulk,"  to  enter  their  vessels  in  the  office  of 
the  port  of  entrance,  and  give  a  correct  measurement  "  from  stem  to 
stern,  breadth  &  depth,  from  the  under  side  of  the  beam  to  the  ceiling, 
the  length  to  be  accounted  no  more  than  the  length  of  the  keelson,  & 
to  divide  it  by  a  hundred."  Before  they  left  port,  they  were  required 
to  pay  half  a  pound  of  powder  or  one  shilling  in  money  for  every  ton 
according  to  this  measure.  If  a  master  of  any  vessel  did  not  obey  this 
rule,  the  gunner  of  the  fort  thus  defied,  was  ordered  to  fire  upon  him  ; 
"  first,  to  fire  over  his  masts,"  and  if  he  did  not  then  come  to  anchor  "  to 
fire  a  second  athwart  his  forefoot  ;  "  and  if  he  still  refused  to  anchor,  "  to 
fire  a  third  shot  with  endeavors  to  strike  his  masts,"  and  "  do  further  dam- 
age if  necessary."  For  every  shot  thus  fired,  a  fine  of  ten  shillings  was 
ordered  to  be  paid  by  the  ship-masters  to  the  gunner,  in  part  for  his  own 
use,  and  in  part  for  the  use  of  the  fort,  to  be  paid  to  the  lieutenant  in 
charge,  for  the  purchase  of  necessary  ammunition.  Vessels  belonging  to 
the  colony  sailing  out  of  any  port,  were  exacted  to  take  out  passes, 
deliver  them  to  the  gunner,  and  pay  accordingly. 

At  the  October  sitting  of  the  Assembly,  Nathan  Gold  was  appointed 
captain,  and  John  Osborn  lieutenant  of  the  Fairfield  train-band.  Ferry 
tolls  were  regulated.  Every  single  man  crossing  the  Stratford  ferry,  lead- 
ing over  the  Housatonic  river,  was  required  to  pay  three  pence  in  county 
pay,  or  two  pence  in  money  ;  and  for  a  horse  and  load,  six  pence  county 
pay,  or  three  pence  in  money.  The  repeal  of  the  famous  bolting  and 
baking  act  in  New  York,  led  the  Assembly  to  pass  a  law  prohibiting  the 
transportation  of  grain  and  flour  out  of  the  colony  for  one  year,  under  a 
penalty  of  forfeiting  the  whole.  By  the  repeal  of  the  bolting  and  baking 
act,  the  sale  of  flour  and  bread  was  thrown  open  to  the  public.  Private 
farmers  ground  their  own  flour,  and  sold  it  to  speculators,  who  sent  it  out 
of  the  country,  or  sold  it  to  pirates.  New  York  was  threatened  with  a 
famine ;  and  fears  were  entertained  that  the  drain  upon  Connecticut 
would  bring  about  a  like  result  within  the  colony. 

Piracy,  which  had  existed  for  many  years,  had  increased  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent,  so  that  it  became  as  necessary  for  vessels  to  carry  guns  and 


1695]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  287 

ammunition,  as  it  was  to  supply  the  forts  and  principal  ports  with  means 
of  defense.  Privateers,  with  and  without  licenses,  roved  the  seas,  and 
preyed  upon  the  commerce  of  all  nations,  not  even  that  of  England 
excepted  ;  in  fact,  privateers  sent  out  under  commissions  from  the  king 
of  England  to  intercept  the  commerce  of  France,  turned  pirates,  seized, 
plundered,  and  sunk  every  vessel  that  crossed  their  track.  It  was  not 
until  commerce  was  almost  destroyed,  that  the  lords  of  trade  and  nav- 
igation awoke  to  the  perils  of  the  situation.  Even  private  citizens,  and 
men  of  wealth,  both  in  England  and  America,  were  accused  of  complicity 
with  the  pirates  which  infested  the  Indian  Ocean,  in  accumulating  prop- 
erty in  this  atrocious  manner.  Gold  coin,  luxuriant  silks,  satins,  and  vel- 
vets, with  other  elegancies,  were  freely  brought  into  this  country.  Men 
hitherto  in  moderate  circumstances,  erected  fine  mansions,  and  in  conse- 
quence, became  the  subjects  of  envy  and  suspicion. 

The  destruction  of  a  ship  of  the  Mogul  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  laden 
with  presents  to  Mecca,  caused  that  monarch  to  threaten  to  take  out  let- 
ters of  reprisal  against  all  English  vessels.  It  became  necessary  that 
England  should  send,  without  delay,  a  man-of-war  to  protect  her  com- 
merce, and  to  capture  vessels  of  a  piratical  character,  but  the  appropria- 
tions of  Parliament  had  almost  exhausted  the  public  treasury.  In  this 
emergency,  the  king  proposed  to  make  it  a  private  undertaking,  and  prom- 
ised ^"3,000.  Lord  Somers  and  the  Earls  of  Rumsey,  Oxford,  Bellomont, 
and  Robert  Livingston  of  New  York,  then  in  England,  contributed  the 
whole  ,£6,000,  the  king  failing  to  advance  the  amount  he  had  promised. 
Robert  Livingston  recommended,  and  introduced  Captain  Kidd  as  a 
brave  man,  well  fitted  to  command  the  expedition,  and  well  acquainted 
with  the  eastern  seas,  and  the  haunts  of  the  pirates.  Kidd  was  furnished 
with  a  commission  under  the  great  seal  of  England,  giving  him  authority 
to  capture  all  vessels  of  a  piratical  character,  in  whatever  place  he  should 
find  them.  Livingston  and  Kidd  signed  a  bond  to  Lord  Bellomont,  in 
which  it  was  stipulated,  that  all  prizes  and  effects  taken  belonged  to  the 
parties  who  fitted  out  the  expedition,  should  be  at  their  disposal,  after 
allowing  one-tenth  for  the  king.  A  great  deal  of  fault  was  afterwards 
found  with  this  arrangement,  but  the  expediency  of  the  undertaking 
served  as  ground  to  justify  the  resolution,  for  the  protection  of  those  who 
had  thus  ventured  their  property  for  the  public  safety.  That  it  turned 
out  as  it  did,  however,  is  not  at  all  remarkable.  With  a  fast  sailing  ship, 
well  armed  and  equipped,  Kidd  set  sail  on  the  i6th  of  April  ;  and,  after 
tarrying  a  few  days  at  New  York,  where  he  took  in  ninety  more  men,  he 
passed  out  into  the  ocean.  Instead,  however,  of  capturing  pirates  and 


288  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1695 

carrying  them  to  England,  he  became  the  most  notorious  pirate  of  the 
times. 

Captain  Kidd  is  described  as  having  been  an  intelligent,  cultivated 
man  of  pleasing  address,  and  up  to  the  time  of  engaging  in  this  expedi- 
tion, regarded  as  thoroughly  trustworthy.  He  had  married  in  1691  Sarah 
Oort,  the  beautiful  and  cultivated  young  widow  of  a  fellow  officer.  At 
the  time  of  his  sailing  for  the  eastern  ocean,  he  was  living  in  comfortable 
circumstances  with  his  wife  and  a  lovely  little  daughter  in  Liberty  street, 
New  York.  When  it  was  discovered  a  few  years  later  that  Kidd  had 
turned  pirate  and  was  sailing  under  the  black  flag,  every  one  connected 
with  the  undertaking,  not  even  the  king  of  England  excepted,  was  charged 
with  complicity  in  his  piratical  deeds  for  their  private  enrichment  ;  and 
every  valuable  jewel  or  ornament  worn,  was  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  some  frightful  story  of  wretched  captives  and  horrible  deaths.  The 
wildest  stories  of  his  daring  deeds  and  of  his  acts  of  cruelty  to  men  and 
to  the  women  whom  he  captured,  in  putting  them  to  death,  or  obliging 
them  to  walk  a  plank  into  the  sea,  that  their  end  might  never  be  known, 
was  the  theme  of  public  and  private  gatherings,  until  his  name  became  a 
terror  alike  to  people  on  land  and  on  the  seas.  He  was  finally  taken  cap- 
tive at  Boston  by  an  order  from  Lord  Bellomont,  the  governor  of  New 
York,  and  sent  to  England  for  trial.  Pie  was  there  condemned  and  exe- 
cuted on  the  1 2th  of  May,  1701.  Songs  were  sung  on  board  ship  and  in 
taverns  of  his  deeds  of  courage  and  cruelty,  and  of  his  vast  accumulations 
of  gold  and  precious  stones,  which,  it  was  believed,  he  had  buried  in  chests 
on  the  shores  and  islands  of  the  ocean,  Long  Island  and  Connecticut. 

A  tradition  exists  that  one  of  Kidd's  rendezvous  in  the  summer  was  a 
point  on  Sherwood's  Island  at  Green's  farms,  and  there  is  some  ground 
for  this  tradition,  from  the  fact  that  the  little  island  lying  west  of  it  has 
been  made  a  resort  from  time  to  time  of  many  persons,  who  believed  that 
he  had  buried  a  large  amount  of  gold  there.  The  island  bears  traces  here 
and  there  of  deep  holes,  which  have  been  dug  with  the  hope  of  finding 
some  one  of  his  numerous  chests  of  gold.*  At  Black  Rock  repeated 
searches  have  been  made  for  Kidd's  treasures,  and  also  at  Berkshire,  a  ham- 
let about  two  miles  north  of  Bridgeport,  f 

*  Stratford  Point  has  also  been  made  a  frequent  place  of  resort,  especially  at  night,  for  the  same 
purpose. 

f  In  1884  a  gang  of  Italians,  while  excavating  for  the  Olmstead  parallel  railroad  near  the  head 
of  the  Pequonnock  river,  where  there  was  once  a  famous  shipyard,  in  picking  between  the  rocks, 
found  a  powder  horn  tipped  with  silver  and  covered  with  hieroglyphics,  containing  some  old 
English  coins,  a  Spanish  doubloon,  and  an  old  parchment.  The  Berkshire  people  believed  that  the 
Italians  found  a  large  amount  of  gold,  which  Kidd  had  buried. — Author. 


1696]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  289 

By  an  order  of  the  king,  in  the  month  of  February  the  governor  and 
council  of  Connecticut  passed  an  act  that  all  deserters  from  his  Majesty's 
ships  of  war  and  garrisons,  as  well  as  all  pirates  and  suspicious  persons, 
should  be  seized,  examined  and  returned  to  the  governor  of  New  York, 
the  authorities  in  Albany,  or  wherever  they  belonged.  Masters  of  vessels 
were  also  requested  to  give  bonds  for  the  safe  delivery  of  grain  and  wheat, 
not  only  in  the  ports  of  the  colony,  but  in  the  ports  of  any  one  of  the 
colonies,  and  make  returns  of  such  deliveries  or  forfeit  their  bonds.  At 
the  May  election  Captain  Gold  was  re-elected  an  assistant  of  the  Assembly, 
John  Wakeman  and  Joseph  Lockwood,  deputies,  and  Captain  Mathew 
Sherwood  and  John  Wakeman,  commissioners  for  Fairfield. 

Upon  the  solicitation  of  Colonel  Fletcher  for  help  in  the  defense 
of  Albany,  the  Assembly  granted  a  company  of  sixty  men  to  be  levied 
out  of  the  several  towns,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Captain 
William  Whiting,  to  be  forwarded  without  delay.  To  encourage  the 
soldiers,  it  was  voted  that  if  the  king's  pay  fell  short  of  the  accustomed 
pay  of  the  colony,  it  should  be  made  up  to  them  out  of  the  colony 
treasury. 

The  embargo  laid  upon  grain  and  flour  was  ordered  to  remain  in  force 
until  June  of  the  following  year.  Captain  John  Wakeman  of  Fairfield  was 
made  one  of  a  committee,  to  advise  with  the  Assembly  in  the  political  and 
prudential  affairs  of  the  colony  for  the  promotion  of  trade,  and  in  making 
new  laws  and  altering  others  for  the  benefit  of  the  colony.  Debts  on 
account,  which  were  by  a  former  law  outlawed  in  three  years,  were  now 
made  good  for  seven  years,  except  in  the  case  of  deceased  persons. 

A  greater  valuation  was  placed  upon  money.  Pieces  of  eight,  weigh- 
ing seventeen  pennyweight,  were  to  be  valued  at  six  shillings  nine  pence, 
and  "  pieces  of  different  weight  to  be  valued  accordingly  in  proportion  to 
their  weight ;  eight  pence  bitts  to  pass  for  nine  pence  ;  double  such  bitts 
for  eighteen  pence." 

Widows,  whose  husbands  had  died  intestate,  were  granted  not  only 
one-third  of  their  real  estate,  according  to  a  former  law,  but  one-third  of 
their  personal  property.  Foreigners  coming  into  the  towns  of  the  colony 
to  trade,  were  required  to  give  an  invoice  of  their  goods  to  the  magistrates, 
and  pay  two  pence  on  their  market  value  to  the  public  treasury  of  the 
colony,  under  a  penalty  of  forfeiting  their  goods.  Captain  Jonathan 
Selleck,  of  Stamford,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  sergeant-major  of 
Fairfield  county.  A  tax  of  a  half  penny  on  a  pound  was  levied  on  all  the 
towns,  to  pay  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  to  the  heirs  of 
John  Sad,  which  the  colony  had  borrowed  "  for  the  service  of  the  country." 
19 


290  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [1696 

At  a  town  meeting  at  Fairfield  in  May,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  bridge  over 
the  Mill  creek. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  governor  and  council  on  the  3Oth  of  May,  it  was 
ordered,  that  the  king's  proclamation  for  keeping  the  third  Wednesday  in 
June  a  day  of  public  thanksgiving,  for  the  deliverance  of  his  sacred  person 
from  a  conspiracy  against  his  life,  should  be  observed  throughout  the 
colony.*  It  was  also  ordered,  that  the  king's  proclamation  for  the  appre- 
hension of  persons  accused  of  high  treason,  should  be  publicly  read  in  the 
several  county  towns  of  the  colony  without  delay. 

Governor  Fletcher  took  occasion  at  this  time  to  manifest  his  power 
under  his  commission,  by  making  frequent  demands  upon  Connecticut  for 
troops,  to  be  forwarded  for  the  protection  of  Albany  and  the  frontier 
towns.  The  whole  colony  was  kept  in  a  constant  state  of  excitement  by 
couriers  dispatched  to  Governor  Treat,  with  fresh  alarms  of  supposed 
invasions  by  the  French,  either  by  sea  or  land.  On  the  2d  of  August, 
Fletcher  sent  in  great  haste  for  assistance,  as  the  French  were  marching 
to  attack  the  friendly  Indians  and  Albany.  The  governor  and  council  met 
on  the  7th,  and  ordered  that  the  several  constables  of  the  counties  of 
Hartford,  New  Haven,  and  Fairfield  should  impress  men  out  of  the  planta- 
tions and  prepare  them,  with  arms  complete  and  fully  equipped,  to  march 
upon  the  first  call  of  the  governor.  Horses  were  also  ordered  to  be 
impressed  as  far  as  Kinderhook,  with  "  saddle  &  bridle  fit  for  service,  & 
knapsacks,  biscuit  &  cheese  for  the  march  to  Albany." 

From  advice  from  the  lords  of  the  king's  council,  that  the  French  were 
about  preparing  ships  of  war  to  sail  for  America,  the  secretary  was 
instructed  to  notify  the  field  officers  in  each  county  in  the  colony,  to  advise 
with  the  assistants  or  magistrates  of  the  several  towns,  as  to  the  best  way 
to  place  themselves  in  a  posture  of  defense  ;  that  every  soldier  should  be 
fully  armed  and  equipped  for  every  possible  emergency  ;  and  one-half  of 
every  train-band  made  ready  to  march  for  the  defense  of  his  majesty's 
subjects.  It  was  voted  that  an  act  passed  in  April  for  preventing  frauds, 
regulating  abuses  in  trade,  encouraging  navigation  and  securing  the  plan- 
tation trade  to  the  kingdom  of  England,  should  be  published  in  the  several 
counties. 

A  copy  of  the  bill  of  association,  passed  by  Parliament  on  the  23d 
of  February  for  avenging  the  king's  death,  if  he  died  at  the  hands  of  an 

*Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  171. 

A  conspiracy  against  the  throne  and  life  of  King  William  was  detected  in  February.  The 
principal  agent  was  Sir  George  Barclay,  a  Scotch  officer.  The  conspirators  were  soon  after  con- 
demned to  death. — Hume. 


1696]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  291 

assassin  or  in  an  untimely  way,  and  confirming  the  crown  of  England  upon 
King  William  and  his  heirs,  was  signed  by  all  the  members  of  the  council 
who  were  present  (August  7),  and  by  the  General  Assembly  in  October. 
Again  on  the  2d  of  September,  Fletcher  sent  in  great  haste  to  Governor 
Treat  for  sixty  more  men,  as  he  had  received  fresh  news  that  Count  Fron- 
tenac  had  orders  from  the  king  of  France  to  attack  Albany.  At  the 
October  session  of  the  Assembly,  a  rate  of  two  pence  on  the  pound  was 
levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  It  was  ordered  that  all  money 
debts  of  the  colony  should  be  paid  in  money ;  and  all  other  debts  due  by 
the  colony  should  be  paid  in  county  or  provision  pay,  i.  e.,  two-thirds  in 
money  and  one  third  in  grain  or  provisions  at  the  following  rates,  viz.: 
Indian  corn,  2s.  per  bushel,  peas,  $s.  per  bushel,  rye,  2s.  6d.  per  bushel, 
winter  wheat,  4^.  per  bushel,  pork,  15.?.  per  barrel,  beef,  30^.  per  barrel. 

The  rule  for  encouraging  and  bringing  money  into  the  colony,  passed 
in  May,  was  made  more  explicit.  Pieces  of  eight  and  lesser  money  were 
to  be  Mexican,  civil  or  pillar  (Spanish)  money.  It  was  also  ordered  that 
good  Peru  pieces  of  eight  should  pass  for  five  shillings  per  piece,  and  lesser 
pieces  in  proportion.  Contracts  made  before  the  passage  of  this  act  were 
to  hold  good,  and  be  paid  according  to  agreement.  That  justice  might 
be  done  to  persons  whose  estates  were  under  execution,  appraisers  were 
required  to  take  an  oath  for  the  just  valuation  of  the  same.  A  tax  of 
two  hundred  pounds  was  levied  on  all  the  towns  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
Major-General  Winthrop,  as  agent  of  the  colony  to  England.  The  assist- 
ants of  Hartford  were  authorized  to  convert  the  money  raised  by  sending 
it  to  Boston  to  be  exchanged  into  English  money.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  frame  an  address  to  the  king  on  behalf  of  the  colony,  and 
also  to  send  a  letter  to  Winthrop.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to 
revise  the  laws  of  the  colony. 

In  consideration  of  the  manifold  providences  of  God,  in  protecting  the 
colony  from  the  malice  of  enemies ;  the  prevalence  of  general  good 
health,  an  abundant  supply  of  harvest  and  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the 
preservation  of  the  life  of  the  king,  the  first  day  of  November  was  set 
apart  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  in  all  the  towns  in  the  colony. 

In  addition  to  the  men  already  sent  from  Connecticut,  Colonel 
Fletcher  was  granted  twenty-five  men  in  November,  to  be  divided  among 
the  three  companies  sent  to  the  frontiers  until  May.  The  constant  drain 
of  men  and  money  upon  the  colony  at  every  rumor  Fletcher  received  of  the 
approach  of  the  French,  led  the  governor  and  council  to  meet  in  Decem- 
ber, and  order  a  statement  of  what  they  had  done  towards  supplying  him 
with  soldiers  for  the  defense  of  Albany,  of  which  he  made  but  small 


2Q2  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [X6g7 

account,  to  be  sent  to  their  agent  in  England,  showing  that  since  1688  the 
colony  had  expended  in  paying,  equipping,  and  providing  for  troops  to  be 
sent  to  the  neighboring  colonies,  £7,7$$,  14$.,  tyd.,  out  of  which  .£5,804, 
us.  was  sent  to  Albany.  A  bill  which  was  presented  to  the  General  Court 
in  1690  for  the  maintenance  of  ministers,  was  again  brought  before  the 
court,  when  the  following  law  was  passed  : 

"The  Court  seeing  the  importance  of  establishing  a  competent  &  certain  main- 
tenance for  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  which  are  now  or  hereafter  shall  be  through  the 
mercy  of  Almighty  God  vouchsafed  to  dispense  his  holy  word  &  ordinances  in  our  sev- 
eral plantations  be  duly  stated  &  settled,  &  observing  how  much  hindrance  is  in  many 
ways  given  to  the  dispensation  of  gospel  ordinances,  &  further  like  to  grow  in  upon  us  if 
a  timely  remedy  be  not  provided,  have  judged  it  their  duty  to  order  &  appoint  .  .  . 
that  from  the  publication  hereof  the  several  towns  in  the  colony  shall  respectively  pay  unto 
the  respective  ministers  in  said  towns,  or  plantations,  for  the  time  being  who  dispense  the 
gospel  in  the  said  plantations,  &  are  according  to  the  good  laws  of  this  colony  settled  or 
called  to  preach  the  word  there,  annually  the  several  sums  or  payments,  which  are  or 
shall  be  agreed  upon  by  the  several  towns,  plantations  or  societies,  &  the  ministers  in 
them;  which  sums  or  payments  in  each  town  or  society  shall  be  levied  or  assessed  on 
the  several  plantations,  according  to  their  respective  estates,  as  from  time  to  time  they 
shall  be  in  the  general  list  or  lists  of  the  persons  &  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  each  town 
or  plantation,  &  in  such  specie,  viz.:  wheat,  indian  corn,  rye  &  pork,  &  in  such  propor- 
tion &  prices  of  ye  specie  as  shall  from  year  to  year  be  settled  by  the  General  Court  for  the 
payment  of  ministers'  rates,  or  in  money,  which  said  sums  or  payments  shall  be  collected 
by  such  person  or  persons  as  the  respective  towns  shall  from  year  to  year  choose  & 
appoint  to  that  end."  It  was  at  the  same  time  made  a  law  "  that  if  any  of  the  towns  of 
this  Colonie,  shall  be  for  any  year  or  years,  without  a  minister  preaching  the  gospel  to 
them,  such  town  or  towns  shall  in  the  said  year  or  years,  notwithstanding,  pay  the  sums 
or  payments,  or  as  the  General  Court  shall  appoint,  as  if  there  were  a  minister  there. 
The  county  courts  shall  dispose  &  improve  the  said  sums  for  the  use  of  the  ministry  in 
that  town  where  it  is  collected,  as  soon  as  an  opportunity  can  be  had  for  it,  according  to 
the  discretion  of  the  said  Court  .  .  .  "  any  former  law,  custom  or  usage  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding." 

Captain  Nathan  Gold  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  consider 
the  printed  laws  concerning  the  maintenance  of  ministers  and  to  assist  in 
their  revision.  In  case  any  one  refused  to  pay  towards  the  salary  of  the 
minister,  his  estate  was  to  be  levied  upon,  "  &  that  no  replevin  should  be 
granted  whatever."  * 

It  appears  that  the  ministers  of  Fairfield  county  were  dissatisfied  with 
the  law  for  their  maintenance,  they  not  approving  of  being  assessed  for 
their  own  support.  The  clause  that  the  towns  were  to  pay  annually  to  the 
support  of  a  minister  of  the  established  church  of  the  colony,  led  many  to 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,    198,  200. 


1697]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  293 

conclude,  that  they  were  to  meet  annually  and  fix  upon  a  yearly  stipend, 
in  consequence  of  which  all  former  agreements  with  their  ministers  were 
supposed  to  be  null  and  void.  The  General  Court  soon  overcame  this  idea, 
by  wholly  repealing  that  clause,  and  soon  after  the  clause  "  in  such 
specie,  viz. :  wheat,  indian  corn,  rye  &  pork,  in  such  proportion  &  prices 
of  the  specie,  as  shall  from  year  to  year  be  settled  by  the  General  Court 
for  the  payment  of  the  minister's  rate,"  was  also  repealed. 

Captain  Gold  was  about  this  time  made  a  member  of  the  council,  and 
was  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  governor  and  council  at  Hartford  on  the 
iQth  of  January  following.  The  assembling  of  the  council  was  in  part 
from  solicitations  from  Fletcher  for  troops,  and  also  to  send  instructions 
to  Winthrop  to  use  every  possible  influence  to  have  the  boundary  lines 
of  the  colony  defined  on  the  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  borders,  as 
well  as  on  that  of  New  York.  The  inhabitants  of  Rye  and  Bedford  had 
petitioned  for,  and  been  granted  a  patent  of  their  lands  from  the  Assembly 
of  Connecticut.  Against  this  invasion  of  his  territories,  Fletcher  soon 
after  strongly  objected. 

Owing  to  a  great  scarcity  of  grain  in  Massachusetts,  the  leading  min- 
isters and  gentlemen  of  that  colony  addressed  a  letter  on  the  i8th  of 
February  to  the  governor  and  council  asking  for  relief,  especially  for  the 
poorer  northern  towns,  which  were  in  danger  of  a  famine.  The  council 
met  on  the  6th  of  March,  and  ordered  that  a  letter  be  addressed  to  the 
ministers  of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony,  to  call  upon  their  congrega- 
tions to  contribute  to  their  Christian  friends  and  brethren  in  distress,  "  a 
suitable  relief  in  such  proportions  as  God  had  blessed  them."  Agents 
were  appointed  in  each  county  for  this  purpose.  Captain  Gold  was 
appointed  for  Fairfield  county,  to  receive  ships,  and  to  consign  the  respect- 
ive contributions  of  each  town  to  Captain  Sewel,  and  the  revered  elders 
of  Boston,  appointed  to  receive  the  same.  The  whole  amount  contributed 
was  £172,  55.  6d. 

There  was  so  little  powder  in  the  colony  at  this  time,  that  in  March 
Mr.  Thomas  Trowbridge  of  Newr  Haven  was  commissioned  to  procure 
eight  barrrels,  one  and  a  half  barrels  of  which  was  to  be  distributed  to 
Fairfield  county.  At  the  May  election  Captain  Gold  was  chosen  an 
assistant,  John  Wakeman  and  Lieutenant  James  Bennet  deputies,  John 
Wakeman  commissioner  for  Fairfield,  and  Captain  Matheu-  Sherwood 
commissioner  for  Fairfield  village.  The  act  for  regulating  the  value  of 
money  having  proved  "  more  injurious  than  profitable,"  was  repealed. 
The  act  prohibiting  the  transportation  of  wheat  out  of  the  colony  was  also 
repealed.  For  his  services  as  surgeon  in  the  war,  Dr.  Isaac  Hall  of  Fair- 


294  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD  [r6g7 

field,  petitioned  the  Assembly  for  liberty  to  purchase  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  land  of  the  natives  in  the  colony.  The  Assembly  granted 
him  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  John  Wakeman  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Fairfield  train-band. 

The  soldiers  of  Fairfield  village  residing  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Pequonnock  river,  were  ordered  to  be  formed  into  one  band  or  company. 
John  Beardsley  was  commissioned  their  lieutenant,  and  Isaac  Wheeler 
their  ensign.  The  soldiers  living  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  were  exer- 
cised under  the  officers  of  the  Stratford  train-band,  namely,  Lieutenant 
James  Judson  and  Sergeant  Thomas  Knowles,  who  were  also  commis- 
sioned at  this  time.  The  lieutenant-governor  and  council  of  Massachu- 
setts petitioned  the  Assembly  to  raise  and  send  a  suitable  number  of 
men,  to  assist  in  attacking  the  eastern  Indians  at  their  head-quarters.  Not 
feeling  able  to  furnish  an  army  of  sufficient  numbers  to  join  in  such  an 
undertaking,  while  so  many  of  their  men  were  absent,  a  detachment  of 
sixty  men  was  sent  to  range  the  woods  near  the  rendezvous  of  the  enemy. 
It  was  voted  to  borrow  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  from  Boston,  to 
send  to  General  Winthrop  for  his  services.  Captain  Gold  was  added  to 
the  committee  for  revising  the  laws  of  the  colony.  The  fort  at  Saybrook 
was  ordered  to  be  repaired  at  the  cost  of  the  colony.  At  the  solicitation 
of  Lieutenant-Governor  Stoughton  of  Massachusetts,  the  governor  and 
council  voted  to  send  fifty  men,  under  the  command  of  Captain  William 
Whiting,  to  join  an  expedition  sent  out  by  King  William,  for  the  recovery 
of  the  Island  of  New  Foundland,  and  the  re-establishment  of  their  trade 
and  fisheries.  Owing  to  a  great  scarcity  of  food  in  Massachusetts,  it  was 
voted  to  send  provisions  for  the  men  by  sea  to  Boston. 

At  the  same  time  Governor  Fletcher  sent  in  great  haste  for  120  men, 
to  defend  the  fort  at  New  York.  He  had  received  information  that  a 
considerable  French  fleet  in  the  West  Indies  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the 
Spanish  plate  fleet,  with  orders,  that  if  they  missed  of  that  design,  to 
destroy  the  fort  at  New  York.  The  council  ordered  that  120  men  should 
be  impressed  out  of  Milford,  Stratfield,  Fairfield,  Norwalk,  Stamford,  and 
Greenwich,  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  march  at  the  call  of  Colonel  Fletcher. 
Captain  Mathew  Sherwood  was  given  the  command  of  sixty  men.  with 
James  Judson  of  Stratford  for  his  lieutenant.  Captain  Ebenezer  Johnson 
of  Derby  was  given  the  command  of  the  other  half,  with  Samuel  Sherman 
of  New  Haven  for  his  lieutenant.  Two  weeks  passed,  and  as  the  expected 
fleet  did  not  arrive,  Colonel  Fletcher  wrote  that  the  troops  need  not 
march  to  New  York,  until  he  had  certain  proof  of  their  approach.  In 
August  he  sent  post  haste  for  one  hundred  men,  as  some  Indians  had 


1697]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  295 

reported  to  him  that  when  about  forty-eight  miles  on  this  side  of  Cham- 
plain,  "  they  heard  a  great  noise  of  drums,  &  many  canons  ;  &  that  they 
did  verily  believe  there  was  an  army  of  French  marching  against  Albany." 
The  council  ordered,  that  upon  the  first  intelligence  of  the  certain 
approach  of  the  enemy,  with  a  considerable  force  to  destroy  the  town  of 
Albany,  or  to  invade  his  Majesty's  subjects  there,  fifty  men  should  imme- 
diately be  sent  from  Hartford  county,  and  fifty  more  from  New  Haven 
and  Fairfield  counties.  At  the  October  session  of  the  Assembly,  Nathan- 
iel Burr,  jr.,  and  Lieutenant  John  Wakeman  represented  Fairfield.  A 
new  regulation  for  nominating  officers  for  the  court  of  election  was  passed. 
The  constables  were  ordered  to  warn  the  freemen,  in  their  respective  towns, 
to  meet  yearly  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  the  third  Tuesday  in 
September,  and  first  choose  deputies  to  attend  the  court  in  October  next 
ensuing  ;  then  every  freeman  was  required  "  to  give  his  vote  or  suffrage  for 
twenty  persons,  (their  names  being  fairly  written  upon  a  piece  of  paper)," 
for  nomination  for  the  May  election.  The  assistants,  commissioners  or 
constables  of  each  town,  were  required  to  record  the  names  of  all  persons 
voted  for,  with  the  number  of  votes  each  person  had,  and  send  the  same 
sealed  to  the  General  Assembly  in  October,  by  the  representatives  of  their 
respective  towns ;  at  which  Assembly,  all  the  votes  of  the  freemen  of  the 
colony  were  to  be  compared,  and  the  names  of  the  twenty  persons  who 
had  the  greatest  number  of  votes  were  to  be  returned  to  their  several 
towns  as  nominees  for  the  May  election,  out  of  which  number  the  assist- 
ants were  to  be  chosen. 

In  addition  to  the  fines  due  to  the  train-bands,  being  appropriated  to 
furnishing  drums  and  colors,  in  case  of  a  deficit  in  money,  it  was  voted 
that  each  town  should  make  up  the  balance  required  for  such  purposes. 
A  tax  of  4^.  on  the  pound  was  levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony, 
to  be  paid  in  money,  or  in  good  and  merchantable  grain.  Where  the 
country  was  indebted,  only  ordinary  pay  of  two-thirds  in  money  or 
grain,  was  to  be  made  legal  tender,  at  fixed  prices,  for  the  total  of  such 
debts. 

Persons  who  had  supplied  the  country  with  grain  and  provisions,  were 
granted  6s.  per  bushel  for  winter  wheat,  $s.  6d.  per  bushel  for  rye,  $s.  for 
Indian  corn,  £3,  $s.  per  barrel  for  pork,  £i,  $s.  per  barrel  for  beef.  The 
governor  installed  the  county  majors  of  their  respective  regiments.  Major 
Jonathan  Selleck  was  installed  over  that  of  Fairfield  county.  Captain 
Gold  was  granted  40^.  in  money  "  for  his  journey  to  Hartford  to  attend 
the  public  service,  at  this  present  session,  notwithstanding  he  was  necessi- 
tated, suddenly,  to  return  home." 


296  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1698 

The  first  of  November  was  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  in 
the  colony. 

The  news  of  Winthrop's  safe  arrival  at  Boston  on  the  nth  of  Decem- 
ber, was  the  cause  of  great  rejoicing  in  Fairfield  and  all  the  towns  in 
Connecticut.  Winthrop's  mission  had  been  a  most  successful  one.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  wrote  to  Governor  Treat:  "The  government  of  Con- 
necticut is  well  in  the  King's  favor,  &  under  a  good  opinion  with  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  Trade  &  Plantations."  The  governor  and  council 
met  at  Hartford  on  the  iith,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  go  to  Boston 
to  congratulate  Winthrop  on  his  safe  arrival  home,  and  accompany  him  to 
Connecticut.  Three  or  four  able  horses  were  ordered  to  be  provided  for 
his  journey. 

A  special  Assembly  was  convened  on  the  22d  of  January.  Major- 
General  Winthrop  being  present,  was  voted  the  hearty  thanks  of  the 
Assembly.  As  a  further  testimonial  of  their  appreciation  of  his  services, 
a  gratuity  of  three  hundred  pounds  in  current  silver  money  was  granted 
him.  The  Earl  of  Bellomont  had  been  appointed  governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  New  York,  and  was  hourly  expected  to  land  at  New 
York.  It  was  thought  advisable  to  pay  all  due  respect  to  a  gentle- 
man of  his  high  position  and  friendly  interest  in  Connecticut.  Gentle- 
men of  pleasing  address  and  elegant  manners,  were  selected  to  welcome 
him  upon  his  arrival.  General  Winthrop,  Major  Jonathan  Selleck,  of 
Stamford,  and  the  Rev.  Gurden  Saltonstall,  of  New  London,  were  chosen 
"to  travel  to  New  York,  &  in  the  name  of  the  governor,  council  &  rep- 
resentatives of  the  colony,  to  congratulate  the  happie  arrival  of  his 
excellencie."  If  any  of  these  gentlemen  were  prevented  from  going, 
Captain  Nathan  Gold,  one  of  the  younger  magistrates  of  the  colony,  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  also  to  be  sent  to  the 
lords  commissioners  of  trades  and  plantations,  "  with  their  thanks  to  his 
Majestic  for  his  grace  towards  this  colony." 

A  change  was  made  in  the  county  courts,  which  for  the  future  were  to 
^consist  of  one  judge  and  four  justices  of  the  peace  ;  and  that  the  decisions 
of  the  judge  and  any  three  of  the  justices  in  each  county  should  be  con- 
sidered legal.  Persons  refusing  to  give  testimony  in  criminal  cases  were 
ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  county  jail,  and  there  remain  at  their  own  cost, 
until  they  confessed  their  knowledge  of  the  crime.  An  act  was  also 
passed  for  the  protection  of  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  discharge  of  their 
duty.  Also  against  turbulent  people  ;  common  barristers,  who  stirred  up 
and  maintained  suits  of  law  and  quarrels  in  the  courts ;  against  persons  of 
evil  name  and  fame ;  night  walkers  ;  eaves-droppers  near  private  houses, 


1698]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  297 

and  disturbers  of  property  ;  drunkards,  libelers  and  idlers,  and  abusers  of 
public  offices ;  all  of  which,  without  giving  surety,  were  ordered  to  be 
committed  to  prison,  "these  to  remain  till  delivered  according  to  order  of 
law." 

The  last  Wednesday  in  February  was  appointed  a  public  day  of  thanks- 
giving throughout  the  colony,  "to  thank  God  for  all  His  goodnesse, 
specially  the  restoration  of  Peace  to  the  English  nation,  &  the  successe  & 
safe  return  of  Major  General  Winthrop."  *  Improvements  were  ordered 
on  the  Stratford  ferry.  A  boat  was  to  be  kept  on  the  east  as  well  as  west 
side  of  the  river,  of  sufficient  size  to  convey  men  and  horses  across 
comfortably. 

The  winter  of  1697-8  had  been  one  of  unusual  length  and  severity. 
The  summer  had  been  cool  and  cloudy,  and  not  a  month  without  frosts. 
In  Februaiy  and  March  heavy  snows  fell,  covering  the  roads  and  fences 
"high  &  hard."  There  was  a  loud  cry  for  bread,  and  cattle  famished  and 
died  in  the  yards  from  want.  A  distressing  fever  prevailed,  preceded  by 
an  influenza,  which  proved  very  fatal.  Those  in  health  found  it  difficult 
to  obtain  fuel,  to  care  for  the  sick,  and  to  bury  their  dead.f  Fairfield 
suffered  severely  from  this  epidemic.  ^  The  governor  and  council  met  at 
Hartford  on  the  I2th  of  March,  and  appointed  the  fourth  Wednesday  in 
the  month  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  throughout  the 
colony,  to  implore  the  mercy  of  God  in  abating  the  sufferings  which  had 
fallen  upon  man  and  beast.  The  soldiers  who  served  under  Captain 
Whiting  in  the  late  campaign,  "  who  were  helpful  in  sending  their  horses 
to  their  fellow  soldiers,  were  presented  with  a  silver  piece  of  eight  out  of 
the  colony  treasury,  for  the  use  of  their  horses."  At  the  May  election 
Captain  Gold  was  elected  an  assistant,  and  Ensign  Philip  Lewis  and 
Nathaniel  Burr,  representatives.! 

A  commission  and  oath  were  read  and  approved  by  the  Assembly  for 
justices  of  the  peace,  after  which  the  justices  for  each  county  were  elected. 
Lieutenant  John  Wakeman  and  Captain  Mathew  Sherwood,  Major  Richard 
Blackleach  of  Stratford  and  James  Olmstead  of  Norwalk,  were  made 
justices  of  the  quorum.  Major  Jonathan  Selleck  was  appointed  judge  of 
the  Fairfield  county  court.  Captain  Gold  was  appointed  to  administer 

*"  The  peace  of  Ryswick  was  signed  September  10,  1697.  Louis  XIV.  resigned  several  of 
his  conquests,  &  recognized  William  King  of  England.'' — Hume. 

f   MS.  of  Gov.  Roger  Wolcott,  Conn.  Hist.  Soc. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  IV.,  242. 

J  "  Elements  of  Useful  Knowledge." 

§  Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  244,  245.  Justices  of  the  quorum  were,  under  the  English  law,  par- 
ticular justices  appointed  to  inquire  into  felonies  and  other  misdemeanors  ;  and  no  business  trans- 
actions were  considered  legal  without  their  presence. 


298  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1698 

the  oath  to  the  justices  of  the  Fairfield  court.  Various  bills  were  intro- 
duced, among  which  was  a  bill  "  of  limitation  of  the  laws  of  England,  & 
how  far  tJiey  were  to  be  in  force  in  Connecticut ;  "  one  for  a  method  to  raise 
money  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  government,  and  for  regulating  public 
expenses,  and  another  for  regulating  superior  and  inferior  courts  of  justice. 
The  sergeant-major  of  each  county  was  authorized  to  call  the  commis- 
sioned officers  of  his  regiment  together,  when  he  deemed  it  expedient  to 
do  so,  instead  of  calling  them  together  once  a  year,  to  consult  with  them 
in  managing  the  militia  affairs  of  each  county  to  the  best  advantage.  No 
soldier  was  permitted  to  enlist  in  any  other  than  the  company  to  which  he 
belonged,  without  the  consent  of  his  chief  officer,  or  from  the  county  court, 
under  a  penalty  of  forty  shillings.  The  soldiers  of  train-bands  were  not  to 
be  compelled  to  train  over  four  days  in  a  year.  All  administrators  upon 
estates  were  required  to  give  bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
work.  For  facilitating  the  post  deliveries  and  public  travel,  a  law  was 
passed  requiring  bridges  to  be  erected,  and  the  king's  highways  to  be  kept 
in  good  repair,  with  marks  and  directions  for  travelers  ivhere  roads  parted. 
The  highways  were  always  to  be  kept  open,  unless  they  passed  through 
the  ancient  common  fields,  or  the  General  or  county  court  otherwise 
ordered,  when  the  select-men  of  each  town  were  to  take  pains  in  erecting 
suitable  gates  of  egress  and  ingress  for  travelers  and  carriers.  This  law 
was  to  be  carried  out  within  the  space  of  a  month,  under  a  penalty  of  ten 
pounds,  and  continued  under  the  same  penalty,  to  be  levied  on  the 
inhabitants  of  the  delinquent  towns. 

To  preserve  deer  and  their  young,  an  act  was  passed,  that  if  any  per- 
son between  the  I5th  of  January  and  the  I5th  of  July  killed  a  buck,  doe 
or  fawn,  he  should  forfeit  2Os.  for  the  first  offense,  40^.  for  the  second,  and 
£$  for  the  third.  In  default  of  means  to  pay  a  fine,  the  transgressor  was 
to  work  as  many  days  as  shillings  covered  his  fine.  The  deputies  of  the 
towns  were  ordered  to  inform  the  Indians  of  this  law,  and  endeavor  to 
restrain  them  from  breaking  it.  Impost  on  wines  and  liquors  was 
restricted  to  such  only  as  were  brought  from  ports  where  they  were  not 
produced,  and  not  on  those  imported  directly  from  the  countries  in  which 
they  were  raised.  A  tax  of  ^d.  pr.  gallon  on  wine,  rum,  brandy  and  distilled 
liquor,  \2d.  per  barrel  on  cider,  and  2d.  pr.  gallon  for  metheglin,  was  ordered 
to  be  paid  by  all  retailers  into  the  public  treasury  for  the  space  of  one 
year.  Judges  or  justices  were  not  from  this  time  allowed  to  be  clerks  of 
the  county  courts.  The  former  custom  laid  upon  foreigners  coming  into 
the  colony  to  trade  in  1696,  was  annulled  ;  and  the  sum  of  \2s.  6d.  upon 
every  hundred  pounds'  worth  of  goods  exacted  of  any  one  bringing 


1698]  CHURCHES,   SCHOOLS,   GOVERNMENT  299 

goods  into  the  colony,  one-fifth  of  which  was  to  be  paid  to  the  custom 
house  officer,  and  the  remainder  to  the  colony  treasury.  It  was  ordered 
that  the  line  of  division  between  Fairfield  and  Norwalk  agreed  upon,  bearing 
date  December  14,  1687,  given  under  the  seal  of  the  committee,  should 
remain  forever  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  towns. 

Winthrop  having  returned  from  New  York,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  wait  upon  him,  "  &  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly  signify  to  him,  the 
hearty  desire  of  his  presence,  to  come  &  take  his  place  as  governor  of 
the  colony,"  to  which  he  had  been  elected  in  May.  Upon  coming  into 
the  court  house  (May  20),  Winthrop  was  welcomed  with  every  mark  of 
respect  and  affection.  The  venerable  Major  Treat,  for  so  many  years  the 
governor  and  military  leader  of  the  colony,  now  ripe  with  age.  gracefully 
resigned  his  position  to  one  he  deemed  so  worthy  to  fill  the  office.  The 
aged  veteran  and  statesman,  in  the  presence  of  the  standing  members  of 
the  Assembly,  administered  the  oath  of  his  office  to  Winthrop,  who  was 
immediately  escorted  to  the  governor's  chair,  Major  Treat  occupying  the 
seat  of  the  deputy-governor,  to  which  he  had  been  elected.  Immediately 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  Assembly,  Governor  Winthrop  met  with  the 
council,  to  consult  about  the  safe-keeping  of  the  duplicate  of  the  Connec- 
ticut patent.  It  was  unanimously  agreed  that,  "  Captain  Joseph  Wads- 
worth  should  be  the  keeper  of  it,"  until  the  General  Assembly  or  the 
council  should  see  cause  to  order  otherwise.* 

An  important  change  was  made  in  the  Assembly  at  the  October  term. 
Previous  to  this  time,  the  assistants  and  deputies  or  representatives  acted 
as  one  body  ;  but  a  law  was  now  passed  according  to  the  following  rule: 

"  It  is  ordered  by  this  Court  6r*  the  authority  thereof,  that  for  the  future  this  GenrU 
Assembly  shall  consist  of  two  houses,  the  first  shall  consist  of  the  Govern?,  or  in  /its 
absence  of  the  Deputy  Govern* ' ,  &*  Assistants,  which  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Upper  House  j  the  other  shall  consist  of  such  Deputies  as  shall  be  legally  re- 
turned from  the  several!  townes  within  this  Colonye,  to  serve  as  members  of  this  Gene- 
rail  Assembly,  which  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Lower  House,  wherein  a 
Speaker  chosen  by  themselves  shall  preside ;  which  houses  so  formed  shall  have  a  dis- 
tinct power  to  appoint  all  needful  officers,  £r>/o  make  such  rules  as  they  shall  severally 
judge  necessary  for  the  regulating  of  themselves.  And  it  is  further  ordered  that  no 
act  shall  be  passed  into  a  lawe  of  this  Colonie,  nor  any  law  already  enacted  be  repealed ', 
nor  any  other  act  proper  to  the  Generall  Assembly,  but  by  the  consent  of  each  of  the 
said  houses." 

*  It  appears  that  this  duplicate  of  the  original  Patent  was  written  on  two  sheep  skins,  while  the 
original  Patent  was  written  on  three.  The  original  Charter  now  hangs  in  the  Secretaire's  Office  at 
Hartford.  A  part  of  the  duplicate  has  been  destroyed,  but  the  remainder  of  it  hangs  in  the 
Library  of  the  Connecticut  HistoricalSociety. — Col.  Rec.  Conn.,  IV.,  263,  264  &  Note. 


300  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [!698 

New  commissions  were  granted  to  justices  of  the  quorum  in  each 
county  to  act  in  the  county  court  with  one  judge,  or  any  three  of  them 
in  the  absence  of  the  county  judge.  Judges  in  the  county  towns  were 
granted  power  to  act  with  any  two  of  the  quorum  for  probating  wills, 
granting  administration  and  allowing  guardians,  as  in  the  Prerogative 
Courts  of  England,  except  in  Fairfield  county,  where  Judge  Gold  with  two 
of  the  justices  of  the  quorum  of  the  county,  was  appointed  to  keep  the 
said  prerogative  court,  with  full  power  to  appoint  all  officers  needful 
and  proper  for  the  said  court.  In  the  absence  of  Gold,  three  justices  of 
the  quorum  were  required  to  keep  the  prerogative  court,  the  first  nomina- 
tion in  the  commission  presiding.  Appeals  were  made  from  this  court  to 
the  court  of  assistants.  Captain  Mathew  Sherwood  of  Fairfield  was 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  county  quorum. 

The  deputies  were  allowed  3.9.  in  money  a  day  for  attending  the  ses- 
sions of  the  Assembly.  The  deputies  from  Fairfield  county  were  granted 
the  same  allowance  for  three  days  in  coming  to  and  going  from  the  Assem- 
bly. The  other  counties  were  allowed  the  same  sum  from  one  to  two 
days.  It  was  also  enacted  that  each  morning  during  the  session,  the  sec- 
retary should  call  over  the  names  of  the  deputies  of  the  several  towns,  and 
if  any  were  absent,  unless  they  came  within  an  hour,  they  were  to  sacrifice 
the  pay  of  that  day.  When  absent  by  permission,  the  salary  for  the  num- 
i  ber  of  days  only  was  forfeited  ;  but  if  from  neglect  a  fine,  not  exceeding 
ten  shillings  a  day,  was  imposed.  The  assistants  were  allowed  5^-  a  day, 
while  they  attended  the  Assembly,  and  also  the  fees  paid  to  the  court  of 
assistants. 

A  tax  of  2d.  on  the  pound  was  levied  on  all  the  towns  to  pay  the  col- 
ony expenses.  The  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King  of  England  was  admin- 
istered to  each  member  of  the  Assembly. 

A  very  important  step  was  taken  by  some  of  the  leading  ministers  in 
the  colony  this  year,  that  young  men  might  not  only  receive  a  good  educa- 
tion at  home,  but  that  the  churches  might  be  supplied  with  efficient  and 
well  educated  ministers  of  the  Congregational  order.  Since  Harvard  Col- 
lege was  founded,  the  young  men  of  Connecticut  had  made  it  their  Alma 
Mater  ;  but  the  flourishing  state  of  the  colony  at  this  time,  and  the  desire 
of  the  leading  ministers  and  gentlemen  to  found  an  institution  of  learning 
within  their  borders,  caused  the  subject  of  a  collegiate  school  to  be  agi- 
tated. The  money  expended  yearly  in  contributions  out  of  the  public 
treasury,  and  by  frequent  private  donations  to  the  support  of  Cambridge 
College,  and  in  sending  their  sons  so  far  from  home,  became  a  subject  of 
thoughtful  consideration  among  the  ministers  and  planters.  Besides,  it 


1699]  CHURCHES,    SCHOOLS,    GOVERNMENT  30! 

was  thought  that  Connecticut  was  fully  able  to  maintain  a  college  of  her 
own.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pierpont  of  New  Haven,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Andrew?  of 
Milford,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Russell  of  Brandford  were  the  leading  ministers 
in  this  movement.  They  discussed  the  matter  first  among  themselves,  and 
then  introduced  it  into  their  councils  and  among  their  people,  until  a  gen- 
eral enthusiasm  upon  the  subject  prevailed  in  the  colony. 

At  the  May  election  Judge  Gold  was  made  an  assistant,  and  Lieutenant 
John  Wakeman  and  James  Bennit,  deputies  of  Fairfield.  The  repre- 
sentatives withdrew  from  the  upper  house  to  choose  their  speaker  and  to 
make  rules  for  regulating  their  business.  Several  important  laws  were 
passed  by  both  houses,  among  which  was  an  act  prohibiting  counterfeiting, 
clipping,  rounding,  filing,  or  otherwise  lessening  the  value  of  current 
money  and  coins,  under  a  penalty  of  imprisonment,  unless  securities  were 
given  for  the  future  good  behavior  of  the  culprit.  The  following  laws  were 
granted  for  the  benefit  of  Fairfield  village: 

"  Impr,  To  make  choice  annually  of  two  or  three  persons,  who  shall  have  power 
to  order  meetings  of  the  societye  to  order  their  minister's  rate,  &  what  concerns,  may  be 
needfull  about  their  meeting  house. 

2.  To  choose,  collectors  of  the  rates,  &  that   they  shall   have  full    power  by  virtue  of 
a  writt  from  lawfull  authority,  upon  non  payment  to  distrain. 

3.  To  choose  a  constable,  whose  power  shall  reach  from  the  west   side  [of  Paqua] 
fiuck  River  unto  the  uttermost  bounds  of  the  village  west  [ward,  accord]  ing  to  the  limi- 
tations granted  to  [329]  their   comission  of  ||  officers,  the  village  consisting  partly  of  Fair- 
field  &  partly  of  Stratford. 

4.  That  they  shall  have  libertye  to  choose  anually  a  society  recorder,  to  be  sworn  to 
that  worke." 

The  Rev.  Joseph  Webb  was  granted  two  hundred  acres  of  land.*  At 
the  October  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  Lieutenant  John  Wakeman 
and  Ensign  John  Osborn  represented  Fairfield.  A  tax  of  $d.  on  the 
pound  was  levied  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  colony.  The  first  Thurs- 
day in  May,  for  the  future,  was  set  down  for  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
court  of  assistants.  A  table  regulating  the  fees  of  assistants,  justices, 
constables  and  other  officers  was  agreed  upon,  which  is  one  of  the  curiosi- 
ties of  the  times,  and  reflects  credit  upon  the  honesty  of  the  magistrates 
who  sat  in  high  places.  Any  departure  from  these  fixed  sums  by  over- 
charge was  punished  by  a  fine  of  ten  pounds  current  money,  one  half  of 
which  was  to  be  paid  to  the  colony  treasury,  and  the  other  half  to  the 

*  This  land  is  recorded  as  having  been  granted  in  October,  1710,  but  it  appears  to  have  been 
laid  out  about  the  same  time  or  soon  after  the  heirs  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  obtained  a 
patent  for  the  grant  made  to  him,  May,  1683. — Col.  Rec.  of  Conn.,  V.,  215.  Fairfield  Town  Rec., 
vol.  II.,  p.  326. 


302  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD  [1699 

informer  or  the  plaintiff,  besides  double  the  value  of  the  excessive  fees  so 
taken  to  the  injured  party.  In  order  to  preserve  the  forests,  which  for  so 
many  years  had  been  drained  of  some  of  the  best  timber  in  the  colony,  a 
law  was  passed  prohibiting  the  sale  and  exportation  of  timber  of  any  kind 
without  a  license  from  the  major  part  of  the  select-men  of  any  town,  under 
a  penalty  of  forfeiting  the  whole  cargo,  besides  a  fine  paid  by  the  captain 
of  five  pounds  for  each  offense.  This  act  was  not  to  affect  saw  mills 
erected  by  liberty  of  the  Assembly,  nor  timber  brought  from  other  places 
for  transportation.  The  days  for  appointing  the  annual  public  fasts  were 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  governor  and  council.  The  first  Wednesday 
in  November  was  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  throughout  the 
colony. 

In  1699  ten  of  the  ministers  in  Connecticut  were  made  trustees  to 
found,  erect  and  govern  a  college.  These  gentleman  were  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  James  Noyes  of  Stonington,  Israel  Chauncey  of  Stratford,  Thomas 
Buckingham  of  Saybrook,  Abraham  Pierson  of  Killingworth,  Samuel 
Mather  of  Windsor,  Samuel  Andrews  of  Milford,  Timothy  Woodbridge  of 
Hartford,  James  Pierpont  of  New  Haven,  Nodiah  Russell  of  Middletown, 
and  Joseph  Webb  of  Fairfield.* 

"  For  the  better  security  of  Maintenance  of  ministers,"  in  October  the 
following  act  was  passed  by  the  General  Court : 

"  It  is  ordered  and  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  in  every  town,  plantation  or 
society  within  this  colony,  where  the  major  part  of  the  householders  of  any  the  said  town, 
plantation  or  society,  who  in  or  by  lawe  are  allowed  society,  are  agreeing  in  the  calling 
&  settling  of  a  minister,  such  minister  so  called  &  settled,  shall  be  &  accounted  the 
lawful  minister  of  such  town,  &  that  all  agreements  respecting  the  maintenance  & 
settlement  of  such  minister  made  by  the  major  part  of  the  householders  of  such  town, 
plantation  or  society  as  aforesaid  shall  be  binding  &  obliging  to  the  whole,  &  all  of 
such  town,  plantation  or  society  &  to  their  successors  according  to  all  the  true  intents 
&  purposes  thereof. 

And  it  is  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid:  That  where  this  Court  both  deter- 
mined the  bounds  &  limits  of  any  society  in  any  town  or  plantation  in  this  Colony  where 
there  are  more  than  one  society,  that  in  every  such  case  all  persons  living  within  these 
bounds  &  limits  &  their  estates  lying  within  the  same,  shall  bear  their  proportion  of,  &  be 
rateable  according  to  the  lawe  for  the  support  &  maintenance  of  the  ministry  of  that  soci- 
ety, any  lawe,  usage  or  custome  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding." 

*  Trumbull's  Hist.  Conn.,  IV.,  498. 


APPENDIX 

No.  I 
LIFE  OF  ROGER  LUDLOW  IN  NEW  ENGLAND 

In  the  year  1630,  when  the  spirit  of  emigration  from  the  old  to  the  new  world  was  at 
its  height,  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Company  fitted  out  seventeen  ships,  with  all  the  neces- 
sary supplies  for  the  maintenance  of  a  colony  in  New  England.  During  the  previous 
year,  the  company  had  sent  out  about  three  hundred  planters  under  Governor  John  Endi- 
cott,  who  settled  Salem  &  Charlestown.  But  a  few  months  later  the  patent  of  the 
company,  Avhich  provided  a  governor,  deputy-governor  and  eighteen  assistants,  to  govern 
the  Colony  of  Massachtisetts  Bay  in  New  England,  was  transferred  to  New  England. 
At  the  same  time  John  Winthrop  was  chosen  governor,  £  Thomas  Dudly  deputy 
governor. 

Among  the  assistants  or  magistrates  then  selected,  was  Roger  Ludlow,  a  gentleman 
from  Wilts  county,  whose  family  were  among  the  leaders  of  that  period  in  the  struggle 
for  the  civil  &  religious  liberties  of  the  people.  He  was  perhaps  led  to  settle  in  New 
England,  partly  through  the  influence  of  Governor  Endicott,  partly  from  ambition  & 
love  of  adventure. 

He  sailed  from  Plymouth  on  the  20  of  March  1630,  in  the  Mary  and  John,  a  ship  of 
about  four  hundred  tons,  which,  either  at  that  time  or  soon  after,  he  owned.  His  com- 
panions were  the  Rev.  John  Wareham,  Rev.  John  Maverick,  Roger  Clap,  Edward  Rossi- 
ter  (an  assistant)  Henry  Wolcott  &  a  number  of  Mr.  Wareham's  congregation.  Most 
of  the  passengers  were  from  the  counties  of  Devon,  Dorset,  Somerset  &  Wilts,  & 
numbered  "  about  one  hundred  &  forty  souls."  "  This,"  says  Cotton  Mather,  "  was  an 
honorable  company." 

A  short  time  before  sailing,  "  upon  a  day  of  fasting  £  prayer  they  were  formed  into 
a  Congregational  Church  in  the  new  hospital  at  Plymouth."  The  famous  Rev.  Mr.  White 
of  Dorchester  preached  &  assisted  ir.  ordaining  or  re-instating  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wareham 
&  Mr.  Maverick  to  be  their  pastor  &  teacher  in  New  England. 

With  many  prayers  &  many  tears  the  mother  and  family  of  Roger  Ludlow  saw  the 
Mary  and  John  pass  out  of  sight,  to  cross  the  great  Ocean,  which  lay  between  them  & 
the  Massachusetts  Bay.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  all  the  ships  which  composed 
Winthrop's  fleet,  reached  their  destination  in  safety  before  the  close  of  the  year.  The 
Mary  and  John  was  the  first  to  arrive,  &  sailed  into  Massachusetts  Bay  on  the  Lord's 
Day  May  30.,  about  six  weeks  from  the  time  she  left  England.  Owing  to  the  danger  of 
wrecking  the  ship  from  want  of  knowledge  of  the  coast,  the  master,  Captain  Squib, 
landed  the  passengers  &  their  effects  on  Nantasket  Point,  afterwards  called  Hull. 
Roger  Ludlow  &  other  passengers  protested  against  being  landed  at  this  point,  & 
argued  that  the  captain  had  engaged  to  take  them  up  the  river.  Captain  Squib  insisted, 
however,  that  he  agreed  to  take  them  only  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  which  promise  he 
had  fulfilled.  He  therefore  left  them  to  take  care  of  themselves,  for  which  "  merciless 
misdemeanor  "  he  was  afterwards  fined  in  England.  A  kind  Providence,  however,  over- 


304  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

shadowed  them  in  their  distressed  condition.  Certain  persons  called  the  old  planters 
came  to  their  relief,  who,  independent  of  the  Plymouth  colony,  had  settled  above  them  on 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  some  years  before  Endicott  &  his  company  arrived  at  Salem. 
They  furnished  Roger  Ludlow  £  his  friends  a  boat,  and  assisted  in  rowing-  them  up 
the  Charles  river  "  until  it  grew  narrow  &  shallow,  where  they  landed,  &  built  a  hut  to 
shelter  their  goods,  at  a  place  now  called  Watertown."  Finding  but  a  scanty  supply  of 
good  water  at  this  point  for  their  cattle,  they  soon  removed  to  a  neck  of  land  called 
Mattapan,  which  abounded  with  springs  of  delicious  water.  With  all  possible  haste  the 
company  erected  their  first  houses  of  shelter,  £  named  the  place  Dorchester.  Here 
Roger  Ludlow  built  his  first  rude  house  in  the  wilderness. 

On  the  20.  of  August  following,  the  first  General  Court  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Com- 
pany in  New  England  was  held  at  Charlestown.  The  names  of  those  who  attended  the 
Court  are  entered  in  the  Records  of  the  Colony,  as  follows  : 

Present  : 

Mr.  Jo  :  Winthrop  Gov.  Mr.  Increase  Newell 

Mr.  Thomas  Dudly  Deput  Gov.  Mr.  Tho.  Sharpe 

Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  Kt.  Mr.  Will.   Pinchion 

Mr.  Roger  Ludlow.  Mr.  Sim.  Broadstreete 
Mr.  Edward  Rossiter. 

Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Roger  Ludlow  &  John  Endicott  were  appointed  justices  of  the 
peace,  "  with  the  like  power  that  justices  of  the  peace  have  in  England,  for  reformation  of 
abuses  &  punishing  &  imprisoning  offenders."  A  second  court  was  held  at  Governor 
Winthrop's  house  on  the  7.  of  September,  when  Roger  Ludlow  with  Mr.  Rossiter  &  Mr. 
Pinchion  "  were  fined  a  noble  a-piece,  for  their  absence  from  the  court  at  the  time 
appointed."  Ludlow's  absence  was  no  doubt  caused  by  good  reasons,  and  does  not 
appear  to  have  occurred  again,  for  his  name  is  found  among  those  who  regularly  attended 
the  sittings  of  the  frequent  Courts  held  during  the  year,  &  his  voice  &  influence  were 
constantly  employed  in  framing  laws  to  meet  the  emergencies  of  governing  the  colony  in 
its  infancy. 

In  May  1632  the  freemen  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  resumed  the  right,  under  their 
charter  privileges,  of  electing  their  governor  and  deputy  governor.  Accustomed  to  rev- 
erence &  bend  to  titled  authority  in  the  mother-country,  they  had  yielded  this  tight  to 
the  assistants  or  magistrates  at  a  General  Court  held  at  Boston  on  the  19.  of  Oct.  1630, 
when  by  erection  of  hands  the  freemen  assented  to  the  proposition  "  that  they  should  have 
the  power  of  choosing  the  assistants  ;  &  that  the  assistants  should  choose  from  among 
themselves  a  governor  and  deputy  governor,  who,  with  the  assistants  should  have  the 
power  of  making  laws  &  choosing  officers  to  execute  the  same."  The  mistake  in  this 
concession  on  the  part  of  the  freemen  soon  became  apparent,  £  at  a  sitting  of  the 
General  Court  May  9,  1632,  "It  was  generally  agreed  by  erection  of  hands,  that  the  gov- 
ernor, deputy  governor,  and  assistants  should  be  chosen  by  the  whole  Court  of  governor, 
deputy  governor,  assistants  &  freemen."  At  the  same  time  the  freemen  still  conceded 
their  right  to  elect  their  Governor  by  agreeing  "  that  the  Governor  should  always  be 
chosen  out  of  the  assistants." 

This  assumption  of  their  liberties  on  the  part  of  the  freemen,  did  not  please  Roger 
Ludlow,  &  upon  hearing  that  they  intended  to  repeal  the  vote  of  the  19.  of  Oct. 


APPENDIX  305 

1630,  he  "  grew  into  a  passion  &  said,  then  we  shall  have  no  government.  The  matter 
was  cleared  in  the  judgment  of  the  rest  of  the  assistants,  but  he  continued  stiff  in  his 
opinions,  &  protested  he  would  go  back  to  England."  The  problem  of  establishing  a 
republican  form  of  government  in  New  England,  had  but  just  begun  ;  £  no  doubt 
Roger  Ludlow  &  others  had  reason  to  fear  the  danger  of  placing  too  much  power  in  the 
hands  of  a  people,  many  of  whom  were  unaccustomed  to  rule,  &  wholly  unfit  to  judge 
of  the  best  men  to  mould  a  government,  entirely  different  from  that  to  which  they 
had  been  accustomed.  Most  of  the  ministers  &  principal  gentlemen  of  the  colony  came 
to  New  England,  with  a  fixed  resolution  to  establish  a  republican  form  of  government,  as 
well  as  to  enjoy  liberty  of  conscience  in  religious  matters  as  Independents  or  Congrega- 
tionalists.  But  they  were  jealous  of  giving  too  much  power  to  the  people,  careful  whom 
they  admitted  as  freemen  to  the  colony,  allowed  none  but  church  members  to  be  made 
freemen,  &  sent  back  to  England  all  opposed  to  their  ideas  of  government  in  church 
&  state.  From  the  beginning  they  had  feared  that  a  governor  would  be  sent  out  from 
England.  Those  who  had  been  sent  back,  some  of  whom  belonged  to  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, &  were  persons  of  good  family,  returned  with  loud  complaints  of  harsh  rule,  & 
of  the  intolerance  practiced  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  allowing  the  civil 
franchise  to  be  based  only  upon  Congregational  church  membership,  thus  depriving  them 
of  their  civil  rights  &  of  the  liberty  of  worshiping  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
Established  Church  of  England.  Those  of  this  class  who  remained  in  the  colony,  proved  a 
turbulent  element. 

These  complaints  reached  the  royal  ear,  &  aroused  the  displeasure  of  Charles  I.; 
but  the  hope  of  gaining  wealth  from  the  new  world,  led  him  to  allow  the  Bay  Company,  for 
the  time  being,  to  continue  in  their  own  way  of  governing  the  colony.  Besides  the  king 
was  so  seriously  embarrassed  with  his  unruly  subjects  at  home,  that  he  had  no  time  to 
give  attention  to  his  weak  colonies  in  New  England.  It  was  for  these  reasons  that  Roger 
Ludlow's  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  the  colony,  led  him  beyond  the  bounds  of  self  interest. 
He  believed  that  the  safety  of  the  colony  lay  in  the  power  of  the  governor,  deputy  governor, 
&  the  court  of  assistants,  to  protect  its  best  interests;  hence  his  indignation  at  what  he 
regarded  as  placing  too  much  power  in  the  hands  of  the  freemen  of  a  growing  colony. 
Such  was  his  popularity,  however,  that  his  views,  for  the  time  being,  did  not  appear  to 
lessen  the  respect  entertained  for  him  &  his  great  usefulness.  He  continued  in  his 
office  of  an  assistant  under  the  change  until  1634. 

Undoubtedly  the  assistants  all  aspired  to  the  chief  office  of  the  magistracy,  whose  rule 
was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  oligarchy  based  upon  a  theocratic  form  of  government, 
out  of  which  the  people  were  destined  to  rise  into  the  light  of  a  grand  republic.  Evidently 
Roger  Ludlow's  political  views  at  that  time,  were  more  aristocratic  than  democratic.  In 
this  particular  he  was  not  alone,  for  no  less  a  person  than  the  distinguished  Rev.  John 
Cotton,  preached  an  election  sermon  before  the  General  Court  in  1634,  in  which  he  stated 
that  "a  magistrate  ought  not  to  be  turned  into  the  condition  of  a  private  man  without 
just  cause,  &  to  be  publicly  convict,  no  more  than  the  magistrates  may  not  turn  a  private 
man  out  of  his  freehold  without  like  public  trial."  His  sermon  so  aroused  the  jealousy 
of  the  freemen,  that  they  abstained  for  four  years  from  a  re-election  of  any  person  to  be 
Governor  at  the  end  of  his  official  term.  During  a  session  of  the  General  Court  held  at 
Boston  Nov.  7.  1632,  one  hundred  acres  of  land  were  granted  to  Roger  Ludlow  & 
his  heirs  forever,  lying  between  Masquantum  &  Chappell.  &  the  mouth  of  the  Napan- 
sett  river.  On  the  4.  of  March  1633  he  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  to  adminis- 


306  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

ter  upon  the  estate  of  John  Knight.     He  continued    to  rise  in  popularity,  until  his    name 
appears  during  several  sittings  of  the  General  Court,  next  to  that  of  the  deputy  governor. 

A  ludicrous  story  is  found  in  the  Massachusetts  records,  Sept.  3.  1633.  It 
appears  that  in  his  office  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  he  arrested  Captain  John  Stone  for  some 
misdemeanor  ;  &  it  is  recorded,  "  that  Stone  for  his  outrage  committed  in  confronting 
authority,  abusing  Mr.  Ludlow  both  in  words  &  behavior,  assaulting  him  £  calling  him  a 
just  ass  &c.,  is  fined  one  hundred  pounds,  &  prohibited  coming  within  this  patent,  with- 
out leave  of  the  governor,  under  the  penalty  of  death."  Not  long  after  Stone,  who  was  a 
dissolute,  intemperate  man,  was  murdered  by  the  Indians  on  the  Connecticut  river. 

At  a  General  Court  held  at  Boston  on  the  I.  of  April  1634,  Ludlow  was  appointed 
with  Mr.  Cog-gin  to  inventory  &  to  take  into  safe  keeping  the  goods  &  chattels  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Tilly,  to  satisfy  such  debt  as  he  owed  the  Bay.  At  the  same  time  the  Court  ordered 
that  "John  Lee  should  be  whipped  for  calling  Mr.  Ludlow  a  false-  hearted  knave,  a  hard 
hearted  knave,  a  heavy  friend,  £c."  It  was  at  this  period  that  the  jealous  apprehensions 
of  King  Charles  I.  were  again  aroused  against  the  colonies.  Besides  the  subsidies  & 
ship  money  levied  upon  his  subjects,  an  order  was  obtained,  that  all  persons  leaving  the 
country  should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  &  supremacy  to  the  king.  The  prayers 
contained  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  were  ordered  to  be  read  on  ships  leaving  the 
ports  of  England  morning  £  evening,  "in  the  presence  of  all  persons  aboard  these  said 
ships."  The  charter  of  the  Massachusetts  Company  was  also  ordered  to  be  laid  before 
the  board  by  its  first  president  Mr.  Cradock,  when  it  was  discovered,  perhaps  for  the 
first  time,  that  it  had  been  taken  to  America.  No  sooner  did  this  state  of  affairs  reach 
the  company  in  Massachusetts,  than  a  General  Court  was  convened  with  a  view  to  reor- 
ganize the  company.  The  warlike  spirit  of  the  Indians  made  it  unsafe  for  all  the  freemen 
of  the  towns,  then  numbering  sixteen,  to  be  present  at  the  assembling  of  the  Court.  This 
led  to  the  election  of  deputies  from  each  town,  to  represent  the  freemen. 

Upon  the  assembling  of  the  court  May  14,  1634  the  desired  reform  in  the  policy  of 
the  government  was  made.  An  oath  was  prepared  for  the  freemen,  in  which  they  were 
bound  to  sustain  the  government  of  the  company  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bay  as  sub- 
jects thereof,  "  without  respect  of  person  or  favor  of  man."  Four  General  Courts  were  to 
be  held  yearly  instead  of  one.  None  but  the  General  Court  of  the  colony  was  allowed 
to  choose  £  admit  freemen  ;  to  make  £  establish  laws  ;  to  elect  &  appoint  officers,  as 
governor,  deputy  governor,  assistants,  treasurer,  secretary,  captains,  lieutenants,  ensigns, 
£c.,  or  to  set  out  the  duty  &  power  of  said  officers  ;  to  raise  money  £  taxes,  £  to 
dispose  of  lands  £  property.  Two  or  three  out  of  each  town  were  to  be  chosen  depu- 
ties, with  full  voice  to  represent  the  freemen.  In  order  to  bind  the  Assistants  to  their 
duty  in  attending  the  Court,  a  fine  was  imposed  for  any  neglect  of  the  same.  An  election 
•  of  officers  by  ballot  followed,  £  Thomas  Dudly  was  elected  governor  in  place  of  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  £  Roger  Ludlow  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  deputy  governor.  It  was 
at  this  time  that  Ludlow  with  three  others,  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court  to  take 
from  Governor  Winthrop  "an  account  of  such  commodities  as  he  had  received  of  the  com- 
mon stock  "  during  his  term  of  office. 

Winthrop  had  now  been  governor  four  years,  £  the  freemen,  jealous  of  his  long 
continuance  in  office,  had  decided  to  elect  a  new  governor.  They  had  set  out  to  maintain 
their  charter  privileges,  £  they  were  resolved  to  carry  out  a  further  continuation  of 
democratic  reform.  Winthrop  had  offended  Dudley  £  others  in  removing  from  New- 
town,  £  fortifying  Boston  as  the  most  prominent  site  for  the  metropolis  of  New  England. 


APPENDIX  307 

In  the  heat  of  jealousy  on  the  part  of  Dudley,  the  freemen  &  the  Newtown  people,  this 
investigation  was  required,  to  which  Winthrop  greatly  mortified,  submitted. 

At  the  sitting  of  the  General  Court  on  the  23.  of  September  following,  Ludlow  pre- 
sented a  just  &  honorable  account  of  Winthrop's  business  transactions  with  the  colony. 
He  was  followed  by  Winthrop  in  a  most  touching  address  to  the  Court.  He  informed 
the  Court  that  he  had  spent  twelve  hundred  pounds  of  his  own  money  for  the  benefit  of 
the  colony,  of  which  he  said,  "  it  repenteth  me  not  of  my  cost  &  labor  bestowed  in  the 
service  of  this  commonwealth,"  &c.  He  concluded  with  one  request,  that  as  it  stood  upon 
record,  that  upon  leaving  his  office  he  was  called  to  account,  "so  this  my  declaration 
may  be  recorded  also,  lest  hereafter  when  I  shall  be  forgotten,  some  blemish  may  lye  upon 
my  posteritie  when  there  shall  be  nothing  to  clean  it." 

Ludlow  had  held  the  office  of  deputy  governor  but  a  short  time,  when  a  new  instru- 
ment sent  out  from  England,  was  laid  before  the  General  Court  held  Sept.  3.  This 
instrument  provided  a  court  of  commissioners  consisting  of  two  Archbishops,  six  lay  per- 
sons, &  three  others,  with  power  of  protection  &  government  over  all  English  colonies  ; 
to  make  laws,  orders  &  institutions;  to  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  a  clergy  "by 
tithes,  oblations  or  other  profits  ;  "  to  inflict  punishment ;  to  remove  governors  &  other 
officers  ;  to  establish  ecclesiastical  courts  ;  to  hear  &  determine  complaints,  either  against 
the  whole  colonies  or  any  private  member  thereof ;  £  to  call  in  all  letters  patent,  and  if  inju- 
rious to  the  "  crown  or  prerogative  royal,"  to  cause  them  to  be  legally  revoked.* 

This  instrument  did  not  intimidate  the  Bay  company,  but  every  man  rose  in  defense 
of  his  liberties.  Committees  were  appointed  "to  manage  any  war  that  might  befall  the 
colony."  A  tax  of  six  hundred  pounds  was  levied  upon  the  several  towns,  towards  defray- 
ing public  expenses.  Economy  in  dress,  &  in  all  possible  ways  to  aid  in  the  maintenance 
of  establishing  the  colony  on  a  self  reliant  basis,  was  ordered  to  be  exercised,  as  well  as 
to  keep  out  intruders  of  any  kind,  either  at  home  or  from  abroad.  Care  was  taken  that 
"the  Scottish  Irish  gentlemen,  who  intended  to  come  over  from  North  of  Ireland,  should 
have  liberty  to  settle  in  any  place  upon  the  Merrimack  river,  not  possessed  by  any."t 
It  was  "ordered  thnt  a  platform  should  be  immediately  erected  on  the  north  east  side  of 
Castle  Ireland,  &  a  house  built  on  the  top  of  the  hill  to  defend  the  platform."  The  fort  at 
Boston  was  ordered  to  be  completed  at  once,  &  "  every  hand  able  to  work,"  both  of  the 
old  &  new  comers,  except  magistrates  &  ministers,  was  to  be  pressed  into  the  speedy 
erection  of  the  needed  fortifications.  Another  fort  was  ordered  to  be  built  at  Charleston, 
&  another  either  at  the  "  deputy  governors  "  Roger  Ludlow's  (Dorchester)  or  at  Fox 
Point.  The  people  of  Salem  "  were  to  fortify  themselves  so  as  to  satisfy  the  General 
Court."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  select  convenient  places  for  the  erection  of  the 
fortifications.  Roger  Ludlow  was  chosen  "overseer  for  the  work  at  Castle  Ireland." 
This  island  (at  the  present  day  called  Fort  Independence)  lies  south  of  Fort  Winthrop, 
on  Governor's  Island,  near  the  mouth  of  Boston  Harbor.  It  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
forts  in  the  harbor.  Hewers  of  stone  were  not  plentiful  in  those  early  days,  &  the 
fort,  under  the  directing  eye  of  Roger  Ludlow,  was  built  "  with  mud  walls  which 
stood  divers  years."  "  When  this  mud  wall  became  impaired  "  says  Roger  Clap,  "  it  was 
rebuilt  with  pine  trees  and  earth,  which  lasted  but  a  short  time,  when  a  small  castle  was 
built  with  brick  walls,  which  had  three  rooms  in  it;  "  "a  dwelling  room  below,  a  lodging 
room  over  it,  &  a  gun  room  over  that,  wherein  stood  six  small  pieces  of  artillery;  &;  over 

*  Palfrey,  His.  of  New  England,  Vol.  I.,  p,  394. 
t  Mass.  Col.  Rec. 


308  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

it,  on  the  top,  three  smaller  ones."  It  was  first  commanded  hy  Thomas  Beecher,*  followed 
successively  by  Captain  Simkins,  Lieutenant  Morris,  Captain  Richard  Davenport  & 
Roger  Clap.  On  the  21.  of  March,  1672,  the  Castle  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.  A  new 
fort  was  rebuilt  in  1674  which  stood  until  1701,  when  the  old  works  were  taken  down, 
&  new  ones,  built  of  brick  in  a  very  substantial  manner,  were  erected  in  their  place, 
which  were  completed  in  1703.  It  then  received  the  name  of  Fort  William,  in  honor  oi 
William  III.  The  Castle  was  again  destroyed,  when  the  British  evacuated  Boston.  It 
was  immediately  repaired  by  the  provincial  troops,  &  its  name  changed  to  Fort  Inde- 
pendence in  1797.  For  a  number  of  years  the  island  was  noted  as  a  dueling  ground, 
while  the  Castle  was  used  as  a  place  of  confinement  for  convicts  from  1785,  until  the 
States  Prison  was  built  at  Charleston  in  1805.  During  our  late  civil  war,  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  confined  here,  &  several  deserters  were  shot.  Within  a  few  years  a  sub- 
stantial stone  fort  has  been  erected. f 

An  interesting  scene  took  place  at  Roger  Ludlow's  house  in  the  month  of  October 
following.  The  Pequots,  who  had  murdered  Captain  Stone  &  his  crew  on  the  Connec- 
ticut, &  had  fallen  out  with  the  Dutch  on  the  river,  being  apprehensive  that  the  Dutch 
might  form  an  alliance  with  the  Narragansetts,  sent  a  Pequot  messenger  to  treat  with  the 
Bay  Colony.  He  brought  with  him  according  to  the  Indian  fashion,  a  present  from  his 
Sachem  Sassacus,  which  he  presented  as  a  personal  gift  to  the  deputy  governor  Roger 
Ludlow.  "  He  laid  down  two  bundles  of  sticks,  indicating  the  number  of  beavers  & 
other  skins  which  the  Pequots  would  give  the  English,  &  promised  that  they  should  be 
accompanied  with  a  large  amount  of  wampum."  Having  thus  prefaced  his  visit  with  a 
show  of  good  will,  he  requested  that  a  league  should  be  established  between  his  people 
&  the  Englishmen  of  the  Bay.  Roger  Ludlow  accepted  the  present,  &  gave  in  return 
a  moose  coat  of  equal  value  to  be  given  to  Sassacus.  He  instructed  the  messenger,  how- 
ever, that  he  was  not  of  sufficient  rank  to  treat  with  the  English  sachems,  but  that  if  Sas- 
sacus wished  to  enter  into  a  league  with  them,  he  must  send  ambassadors  of  a  higher 
rank. 

Two  weeks  afterward,  two  Pequot  Sagamores,  bringing  with  them  another  gift, 
appeared  at  Dorchester,  and  presented  themselves  at  Ludlow's  house.  He  received  them 
very  courteously  &  accompanied  them  to  Boston,  where  the  murderers  of  Captain  Stone 
&  his  men  were  demanded,  before  peace  could  be  established  between  them  &  the 
English.  The  Sagamores  represented  that  Stone  had  provoked  his  own  destruction  by 
his  insolent  conduct,  having  seized  &  bound  two  Indians  to  pilot  him  up  the  Connecti- 
cut, &  while  going  on  shore  at  night  with  his  men  &  the  two  captives,  he  was  surprised 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  had  been  watching  him,  &  all  were  killed  but  the  two  captives, 
whom  they  liberated. 

The  Sagamores  promised  that  Sassacus  would  deliver  up  two  of  the  murderers  at 
least.  The  others  they  represented  to  be  dead.  They  also  promised  that  the  English 
should  have  as  much  land  on  the  Connecticut  as  they  wished,  &  every  assistance  rendered 
them  by  the  Pequots,  provided  they  would  make  a  settlement  on  that  river.  Papers  were 
drawn  &  signed  to  this  effect.  The  Sagamores  promised  to  give  forty  beaver  skins,  thirty 
otter  skins  &  four  hundred  fathoms  of  wampum,  &  to  pay  their  taxes  to  the  English. 
The  compact  was  concluded  Nov.  4.  1634.  This  treaty,  which  was  conducted  through 
Ludlow,  for  whom  it  is  shown  that  the  Indians  entertained  a  high  respect,  reflects  great 
credit  upon  him,  at  this  important  crisis. 

*Mass.  Col.  Rec.,  Vol.  I.   p.  147.  t  Hist,  of  Boston  Harbor. 


APPENDIX  309 

The  winter  passed  without  molestation  from  any  quarter.  A  General  Court  was 
convened  Jan.  19,  1635  when  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  "  If  a  General  Governor 
were  sent  from  England,  we  ought  not  to  accept  him,  but  defend  our  lawful  possessions, 
if  we  are  able  ;  otherwise  to  avoid  or  protract." 

Again  in  March  the  General  Court  assembled,  when  it  was  ordered  "  that  the  fort  at 
Castle  Island,  now  begun,  should  be  fully  perfected,  the  ordnance  mounted  &.  every 
other  thing  about  it  finished,  before  any  thing  else  be  proceeded  in  ;  &  that  the  Deputy 
Governor  Roger  Ludlow,  as  an  overseer  of  the  work,  should  have  power  to  press  men  for 
the  work,  as  long  a  time  as  in  his  discretion  he  should  think  meet."  An  important  ques- 
tion at  this  time  arose  in  regard  to  the  mutilated  English  flag,  out  of  which  John  Endicott 
had  cut  the  red  cross,  which,  in  his  eyes,  was  but  as  a  relic  of  popery.  After  a  warm 
&  lengthy  debate,  it  was  decided  that  the  cross  was  to  be  kept  in  banners  belonging  to 
castles  &  vessels,  out  of  respect  to  the  national  flag  of  England,  when  it  was  necessary. 
In  the  banners  of  the  train  bands,  however,  it  was  generally  omitted.*  It  was  during  the 
sitting  of  a  General  Court  held  at  Newtown  on  the  4.  of  March  1635,  ^nat  an  order  was 
passed,  "  that  when  the  deputies  of  several  towns  had  met  together  before  any  General 
Court,  it  might  be  lawful  for  them,  or  the  major  part  of  them,  to  hear  &  determine  any 
differences  that  may  arise  about  the  election  of  any  of  their  members,  &  to  order  things 
among  themselves  that  may  concern  the  well  ordering  of  their  body."f 

Ludlow  was  among  those  who  aspired  to  be  governor  for  the  ensuing  year, 
an  office,  his  ambition  as  well  as  his  merits  led  him  to  expect.  Great  therefore  was  his 
disappointment,  when  on  the  6.  of  May,  John  Haynes  was  elected  governor  &  Richard 
Bellingham  Deputy  Governor.  In  a  moment  of  outspoken  indignation  he  went  so  far  as 
to  declare  the  election  void,  &  accused  the  deputies  of  having  agreed  upon  whom  they 
would  elect  before  they  assembled  at  the  Court  of  Election,  which  was  undoubtedly  true. 
The  freemen  no  doubt  administered  this  rebuke  on  account  of  his  opposing  their  char- 
tered liberties  in  respect  to  voting  for  their  chief  magistrates.  His  name  was  also  left  out 
of  the  magistracy.  Perhaps  others  equally  ambitious,  were  jealous  of  his  rising  popu- 
larity. There  were  those  also  who  plainly  saw  that  he  was  not  as  yet  sufficiently  demo- 
cratic to  take  the  helm  of  government,  £  his  church  views  were  more  liberal  than  those 
of  some  other  leaders. 

The  Ludlow  family,  who  for  many  years  had  held  a  place  in  Parliament,  were  strong 
advocates  for  the  liberties  of  the  people  against  the  usurpations  of  the  crown. J  As  a 
family  they  were  high  churchmen  ;§  no  evidence  exists  however  to  show  that  Roger 
Ludlow  was  not  a  stanch  Puritan  ;  but  the  liberality  of  his  views  in  regard  to  church 
membership  is  shown  in  the  Connecticut  Constitution  of  163^,  in  which  the  civil  franchise 
of  the  Connecticut  colony  was  not  based  upon  church  membership.  He  was  by  no  means 
alone  in  his  chagrin.  Captain  Israel  Stoughton  (who  afterwards  became  famous  in  the 
Pequot  war)  was  prohibited  from  holding  any  office  in  the  colony  for  three  years,  for 
affirming  during  a  warm  debate  before  the  General  Court  as  to  the  advantages  of  settling 
a  colony  on  the  Connecticut,  "  that  the  Assistants  were  no  magistrates."  ||  No  less  a  per- 
sonage than  Governor  Winthrop  had  been  deposed  from  his  office,  &  subjected  to  the  mor- 
tification of  a  financial  investigation.  John  Endicott  was  under  the  censure  of  the  Court, 

*  Magnalia,  Vol.  II.,  Book  7,  p.  436.  t  Mass.  Col.  Rec.,  Vol.  I.,  p.  142. 

J  Memoirs  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Edmund  Ludlow. — Astor  Library. 
§  Proceeding's  of  the  Laying  of  the  Corner-stone  of  Ludlow  &  Wilkins  Hall,  1866. 
|  Col.  Rec.  Mass.,  I.,  itf. 


310  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

for  having  cut  the  red  cross  out  of  the  English  flag.  Roger  Williams  was  under  the  ban 
of  church  discipline,  &  soon  after  banished  from  the  colony.  Loud  complaints  were 
made  by  many  non-communicants,  who  claimed  the  right  to  be  made  freemen.  Others 
among  the  first  Assistants  had  also  been  set  aside,  £  their  places  filled  by  persons  not 
mentioned  in  the  charter.  Upon  the  announcement  of  the  election  of  John  Haynes  as 
governor  &  Richard  Bellingham,  deputy  governor,  Ludlovv  evidently  resolved  to  leave 
the  colony.  At  his  own  request  he  was  dismissed  from  the  charge  of  overseeing  the  for- 
tification at  Castle  Island.  The  Court,  however,  sensible  of  his  merits,  appointed  him 
with  Governor  Winthrop,  Thomas  Duclly,  John  Humphrey,  and  Thomas  Beecher  as  a 
committee  on  military  affairs.  This  committee  was  given  extraordinary  power.  They 
were  to  dispose  of  all  military  affairs  whatsoever  ;  to  appoint  all  officers  ;  to  call  out  the 
troops  ;  to  remove  officers  not  true  to  the  interests  of  the  colony  ;  "to  make  any  defensive 
war  ;  "  to  imprison  enemies  of  the  commonwealth  ;  "  to  bring  in  alive  or  dead  such  as  re- 
fused to  come  under  command  or  restraint,  &  to  put  any  offender  to  death  by  martial  trial." 
This  office  Ludlow  soon  after  resigned  ;  &  the  Court  appointed  a  committee,  to  take  an 
account  of  the  money  he  had  received  from  the  treasury  for  the  erection  of  the  fort  at 
Castle  Island.  In  the  meantime  Ludlow,  who  had  previously  opposed  the  movement, 
now  turned  all  his  thoughts  towards  settling  a  colony  on  the  Connecticut  river.  It  was 
known  that  in  1631  the  Plymouth  Company  had  granted  a  patent  of  Connecticut  to 
Lords  Say  &  Seal,  Lord  Brook,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  &  others  ;  &  that  the  patentees 
expected  to  take  possession  of  their  lands  as  soon  as  the  settlement  had  sufficiently 
advanced  to  warrant  their  removal  to  New  England.  The  influence  of  Ludlow  &  others 
in  drawing  many  to  join  them  in  emigrating  to  the  Connecticut,  was  most  alarming  to  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  Company,  so  much  so,  that  on  the  18.  of  September,  1634,  a  public 
fast  was  appointed  by  the  General  Court.  The  protest  of  this  Court,  &  of  the  ministers 
who  opposed  the  measure  as  one  of  great  peril,  however,  no  longer  availed  with  Ludlow. 
In  this  movement  he  had  the  co-operation  of  his  minister  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wareham,  &  his 
friend  the  Rev.  Samuel  Maverick,  the  discomforted  Captain  Israel  Stoughton,  &  many 
other  of  his  Dorchester  friends  &  neighbors.  Whatever  the  privations  he  suffered  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  the  emigration,  his  proud  spirit  met  every  difficulty,  &  rose  above 
every  emergency. 

This  emigration  which  was  led  by  Governor  Winslow,  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  in 
1632  &  33  had  been  strongly  opposed  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  from  the 
beginning  ;  but  the  people  impatient  of  restraint,  took  the  matter  into  their  own  hands, 
&  in  1634,  a  few  planters  from  Watertown  made  their  way  to  Weathersfield,  where  they 
spent  the  winter.  Finding  that  the  colonists  were  resolved  upon  planting  a  settlement 
on  the  Connecticut,  on  the  6.  of  the  May  1635  the  General  Court  reluctantly  "granted  the 
Watertown  men,  liberty  to  remove  to  any  place  they  shall  think  meet,  provided  they  con- 
tinue under  this  government."  On  the  3.  of  June  following,  the  General  Court  gave  the 
inhabitants  of  Dorchester  liberty  to  remove  to  the  Connecticut.  Three  pieces  of  artillery 
were  also  granted  to  the  plantations  on  the  river,  "  to  fortify  themselves  withall." 

During  the  latter  part  of  June,  Ludlow,  accompanied  by  a  party  of  Dorchester 
men,  made  his  way  to  Matianock,  (now  Windsor),  on  the  Connecticut  ;  &  encamped  near 
Holme's  trading  house.  After  having  been  entertained  a  few  days  by  the  Plymouth  com- 
pany, he  &  his  companions  proceeded  up  the  river  above  the  falls  ;  but  not  finding  lands 
to  their  liking  they  soon  returned  to  their  first  camping  grounds,  which  they  found  had 
been  taken  possession  of  by  another  party.  The  new  comers  proved  to  be  Mr.  Francis 


APPENDIX  311 

Stiles  &  about  twenty  men,  who  had  been  sent  out  at  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall's  expense, 
to  prepare  grounds  &  erect  houses  for  himself  &  other  lords  &  gentlemen,  who 
expected  to  come  over  to  take  possession  of  their  patent.  Stiles  "  arrived  in  Massachusetts 
Bay  on  the  16.  of  June,  where  he  remained  for  ten  days,  &  then  sailed  up  the  Connecticut 
to  Windsor,  the  point  designated  in  his  instructions,  which  he  reached  about  the  I.  of 
July."  A  dispute  at  once  arose  between  Ludlow  &  Stiles.  Ludlow  claimed  the  grounds 
by  priority  of  occupation,  &  also  that  Matianock  lay  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Massachusetts  patent.  Stiles  contended  that  it  lay  within  the  limits  of  the  Connecticut 
patent,  &  that  the  Dorchester  men  previous  to  his  arrival,  had  not  decided  upon  any 
location.  Ludlow  £  his  men,  however,  continued  to  claim  the  situation.  After  many 
hard  words  on  both  sides,  Stiles  &  his  party  gave  in,  &  landing  his  stores  &c.  below 
Windsor,  he  sent  back  the  vessel  to  England,  &  awaited  further  orders.  This  vessel  was 
lost  on  its  return  voyage  off  the  Isle  of  Shoals.  The  pecuniary  loss  to  Sir  Richard  Salton- 
stall  was  very  great.  The  lands  claimed  by  both  parties  remained  in  dispute  until  1645, 
when  the  patent  was  sold  to  the  Connecticut  Colony.* 

In  the  mean  time  another  trouble  arose  about  the  disputed  lands.  The  Plymouth 
company  objected  to  Ludlow's  men  settling  upon  the  very  grounds,  which  they  claimed  by 
purchase  from  the  Indians.  Governor  Bradford  strongly  protested  against  their  usurpa- 
tion of  these  lands,  &  accused  them  of  "  casting  a  partial  if  not  covetous  eye  upon  that, 
which  is  your  neighbors,  &  not  yours."  The  Dutch  also  laid  claim  to  these  lands.  Lud- 
low &  his  men,  however,  in  spite  of  all  opposition  were  busily  engaged  during  the  sum- 
mer, in  making  preparations  to  remove  their  families  before  fall  to  Matianock.  All 
through  the  summer  small  parties  joined  the  Dorchester  company.  On  the  15.  of 
October  "  about  sixty  men,  women,  &  children  went  by  land  to  Connecticut  with  their 
cows,  heifers,  &  swine,  &  after  a  tedious  journey  arrived  there  safely."  "Their  household 
furniture  &  winter  provisions  were  sent  around  by  water.  The  hearts  of  the  emigrants 
were  cheered  by  the  arrival  of  John  Winthrop  jr's  party,  who  on  the  9.  of  Nov.  dispatched 
a  small  vessel  to  take  possession  of  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut,  &  fifteen  hundred 
acres  of  lands  as  nearly  adjoining,  as  might  be  convenient  for  the  maintenance  of  a 
fort." 

The  balmy  air  of  the  Indian  summer  too  soon  gave  place  to  the  severity  of  an  unusu- 
ally cold  winter,  £  the  sufferings  of  all  the  settlers  upon  the  river  were  very  great. 
Several  endeavored  to  return  to  Dorchester,  which  they  reached  only  by  the  kindness  of 
the  Indians  after  a  perilous  journey.  A  company  of  seventy  seized  upon  a  small  vessel  of 
fifty  tons  called  the  Rebecca,  which  had  been  frozen  in  the  river.  Upon  this  frail  vessel 
they  embarked.  A  day  of  mild  weather  followed,  when  the  river  opened,  &  they  sailed 
out  into  the  Sound.  They  reached  Massachusetts  in  five  days.  Those  who  remained 
behind  lived  upon  acorns,  malt  &  grain,  &  what  food  they  ventured  to  hunt,  &  were 
presented  with  by  the  Indians.  The  loss  of  the  Dorchester  people  at  this  time,  Winthrop 
states,  was  as  much  as  .£2,000,  in  cattle  alone.  Nothing  daunted,  however,  Ludlow  prose- 
cuted his  plan  of  making  a  permanent  settlement  at  Windsor.  On  the  3.  of  March  the 
General  Court  granted  a  commission  to  Roger  Ludlow  Esqr. ,  William  Pinchon,  John 
Steele,  William  Swaine,  Henry  Smyth,  William  Phelpes,  William  Westwood,  &  Andrew 
Warde  to  govern  the  people  att  Connecticut,  "in  a  judicial  way,"  for  the  space  of 
one  year  ;  "to  hold  a  Court  for  executing  the  power  &  authority  given  them  ;  to  inflict 
punishment  £  imprisonment  ;  to  levy  taxes  £  fines  both  in  trading,  planting, 
*  Stiles'  History  of  Ancient  Windsor.  Winthrop's  Journal,  Vol.  I.,  p.  171. 


312  HISTORY  OF  FAIRFIELD 

building  lots,  military  discipline,  defensive  war,  (if  need  so  require)  as  shall  best  con- 
duce to  the  public  good  of  the  same— provided,  also,  that  this  may  not  be  prejudicial  to 
the  interests  of  those  noble  personages  in  the  sd.  river,  £  confines  thereof  within  their 
several  limits."  On  the  16.  of  April  1636  Ludlow  and  a  company,  comprising  the  larger 
part  of  the  Dorchester  church,  set  out  for  the  Connecticut.  "  Their  pastor  Mr.  Wareham 
some  state  accompanied  them,  while  others  say  he  followed  soon  after."  By  this  move- 
ment Dorchester  "  was  deprived  of  nearly  one  half  of  its  population,  including  the  minis- 
ters, Messrs.  Wareham  &  Maverick,  &  a  large  part  of  the  intelligence  £  wealth  which 
accompanied  the  first  comers."  During  the  same  year  Agawam  or  Springfield  was  set- 
tled by  Mr.  Pinchion,  John  &  Jehu  Burr,  Henry  Smyth,  £  others  from  Roxbury.  In 
June  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker  with  about  one  hundred  men,  women  £  children  from  Cam- 
bridge, settled  Suckiage  or  Hartford.  The  settlement  of  Weathersfield,  already  begun 
the  previous  year,  was  increased  by  the  arrival  of  a  few  others. 

Ludlow  with  the  other  leading  spirits  of  the  emigration,  no  doubt  felt  more  at  ease 
to  be  thus  far  removed  from  the  Bay  colony,  whose  warlike  preparations  towards  the 
Mother-country  had  already  assumed  a  serious  aspect.  The  murmur  of  the  waters  of  the 
Connecticut  &  of  the  distant  falls,  was  far  more  soothing  to  his  wounded  spirit,  than  the 
boom  of  his  Majestie's  cannon  balls  approaching  Castle  Island.  Perhaps  too,  at  that  time 
he  felt  that  he  could  far  better  serve  his  king  and  his  countrymen  in  the  wilderness  of 
Connecticut,  than  the  freemen  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  so  ungratefully  rewarded  his 
services.  It  was  certainly  a  novel  position  for  a  man  of  spirit  to  erect  a  fort  for  the  pro- 
tection of  a  body  of  freemen,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  depose  him  from  the  high  offices  he 
had  held.  He  had,  however,  been  learning  the  lesson  of  political  experience  ;  &  the 
very  discipline  which  had  angered  &  humiliated  him,  served  to  enlarge  his  views,  &  to 
prepare  him  for  a  more  liberal  £  enlightened  mode  of  building  up  a  republican  form  of 
government.  From  this  time  he  became  the  leader  of  Connecticut  jurisprudence.  His 
name  heads  the  list  of  the  first  nine  Courts  held  in  the  colony,  £  he  was  to  all  intents 
&  purposes  its  first  governor.  On  the  26.  of  April,  1636,  Ludlow  &  four  of  his  associates 
met  at  Newtown  or  Hartford,  to  open  the  first  Court  held  in  Connecticut.  The  following 
names  are  given  as  they  occur  in  the  Colonial  Records  : 

Roger  Ludlow  Esqr.  Mr.  Westwood. 

Mr.  Steel.  Mr.  Warde.* 

Mr.  Phelps. 

Mr.  Pinchion,  Mr.  Swaine  £  Mr.  Smyth,  the  three  others  appointed  to  assist  in  govern- 
ing the  colony,  were  not  present. 

The  first  law  passed  by  this  Court,  was,  that  no  Englishman  should  trade  a  pistol  or 
a  gun,  or  any  powder  or  shot  with  the  Indians  "  under  a  heavy  penalty."  Constables  were 
chosen  for  Dorchester,  Newtown  £  Watertown.  At  a  second  Court  held  on  the  7.  of 
June  at  Dorchester  (Windsor),  Samuel  Wakeman  &  George  Hubbard  were  appointed 
by  Ludlow  £  his  associates,  to  survey  £  lay  out  the  length  &  breadth  of  that  town. 
Military  laws  were  made  for  the  protection  of  the  towns,  £  every  man  was  ordered  to 
provide  himself  with  powder  £  ball,  £  twenty  bullets  of  lead,  under  a  penalty  of  ten 
shillings  before  the  end  of  August.  Each  plantation  was  ordered  to  train  the  men 
monthly  "  £  oftener  the  unskillful."  A  fine  of  five  shillings  was  imposed  upon  absent  sol- 

*  The  name  of  Andrew  Warde  is  spelled  in  the  Massachusetts  Commission  &  occasionally  in  the  Connecticut 
Records,  Warner. 


APPENDIX  313 

diers  ;  &  all  not  owning  arms  were  to  report  to  the  next  General  Court.  At  a  Court 
held  the  21.  of  Feb.  1637,  it  was  ordered  that  Newtown  shall  be  called  Hartford  town, 
Watertown  Weathersfield,  and  Dorchester  Windsor.  A  law  was  passed  that  no  single 
man  not  married  &  without  servants,  unless  a  public  officer,  should  keep  house  by  him- 
self without  the  consent  of  the  town  in  which  he  lived,  under  a  penalty  of  twenty  shillings 
a  week.  Also  "  that  no  Mr.  of  a  family,  shall  give  habitation  or  entertainment  to  any 
young  man  to  sojourn  in  his  family,  but  by  the  allowance  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
town  where  he  dwells,  under  the  like  penalty  of  2os.  per  week." 

At  a  Court  held  on  the  28.  of  March  1637  it  was  ordered,  that  every  juryman  should 
have  six  pence  for  each  action  given  them  upon  evidence,  "  to  be  paid  by  him  the  action 
goes  against."  The  spring  of  1637  not  only  brought  back  those  who  had  fled  from  the  hard- 
ships of  their  first  winter  upon  the  Connecticut  &  many  others  with  them  ;  but  it  also  led 
to  a  decisive  action  on  the  part  of  Ludlow  &  his  associates.  It  had  undoubtedly  been  the 
aim  of  Ludlow  upon  leaving  Massachusetts  to  establish  a  separate  colony  in  Connecticut. 
In  this  movement  he  was  sustained  by  his  associates.  The  necessity  of  a  promise  of  alle- 
giance to  the  Bay  colony  for  one  year  at  the  outset  of  the  emigration,  was  made  impera- 
tive by  the  action  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  The  population  of  the  river 
towns  at  this  early  date,  independent  of  Winthrop's  twenty  men  at  theSeabrook  fort,  num- 
bered about  eight  hundred  souls,  including  two  hundred  &  fifty  adult  men. 

In  organizing  the  first  Court,  it  was  Ludlow  who  instituted  trials  before  Jurors.* 
(Nov.  1636)  He  took  great  pains  to  keep  the  English  settlements  free  from  the  intrusion 
of  adventurers,  that  the  family  relations  of  the  commonwealth  might  be  built  upon  the 
healthy  principles  of  Christian  morality.  A  law  was  passed  that  none  should  join  the 
colony,  but  by  a  vote  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  which  they  applied  for  admission. 
The  courage  of  Ludlow,  as  a  leader,  is  shown  in  the  action  taken  by  this  Court,  in  declar- 
ing war  against  the  powerful  Pequots,  a  step  which  can  never  be  regarded  as  other  than 
the  salvation  of  all  the  New  England  colonies.  Left  to  preside  over  &  protect  the 
inhabitants  of  Windsor,  with  the  few  men  who  remained  to  assist  him  after  the  expedition 
had  embarked  upon  its  perilous  undertaking,  he  must  have  endured  that  strong  tension 
of  nerve  which  requires  an  iron  will  to  control.  His  feelings  at  this  moment  are  expressed 
in  a  letter  written  from  within  the  palisadoe  of  Windsor,  which  lie  gave  an  Indian  a  new 
coat  to  carry  to  Mr.  William  Pynchon  of  Springfield.  He  wrote  :  "  I  have  received  your 
letter,  wherein  you  express  that  you  are  well  fortified,  but  few  hands.  For  my  part,  my 
spirit  is  ready  to  sink  within  me,  when,  upon  alarms,  which  are  daily,  I  think  of  your  con- 
dition, that  if  the  case  be  never  so  dangerous,  we  can  neither  help  you,  nor  you  us.  But  I 
must  confess,  both  you  and  ourselves  do  stand  merely  in  the  power  of  our  God. 
Our  plantations  are  so  gleaned  by  that  small  fleet  we  sent  out  [He  pleaded  military 
necessity  for  taking  Mr.  Pynchon's  boats  without  his  leave;  the  boats  were  at  or  below 
'Warehouse  Point'],  that  those  that  remain,  are  not  able  to  supply  our  watches,  which 
are  day  and  night ;  that  our  people  are  scarce  able  to  stand  upon  their  legs  ;  and,  for 
planting,  we  are  in  a  like  condition  with  you  :  what  we  plant  is  before  our  doors — little 
anywhere  else." 

While  in  this  agony  of  suspense  for  himself  &  those  whom  he  had  been  instrumental 

in  leading  to  settle  with  him  on  the  Connecticut,  Ludlow  must  have  indeed  experienced 

as  he  declared  in  this  letter  "  what  it  was  to  stand  merely  in  the  power  of  God."     Never 

did  more  earnest  prayers   arise  than  he  &  those  anxious,  trembling  hearts  around  him 

*  See  Sergeant  Seely's  action  against  the  inhabitants  of  Watertown,  Ct.,  Col.  Rec.,  Vol.  I.,  4. 


314  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

offered  before  the  Throne  of  Grace,  while  they  awaited  the  return  of  Mason  &  his  hand. 
Greater  therefore  than  any  pen  can  depict,  must  have  been  his  joy  &  the  joy  of  all  within 
the  river  settlements,  when  Mason  with  his  band,  out  of  which  five  only  had  been  killed, 
returned  in  triumph.  Every  demonstration  of  happiness  was  made  in  the  settlements, 
&  never  did  more  heartfelt  thanksgiving  ascend  on  High  Without  delay  Ludlow 
assembled  a  General  Court  (June  26.),  when  it  was  resolved  to  prosecute  the  war  against 
the  Pequots.  As  the  terror  of  annihilation  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians  no  longer  existed, 
he  resolved  to  accompany  the  army  ;  &  with  several  gentlemen  from  Hartford,  set  out 
with  Mason  &  his  forces  for  the  Pequot  country.  On  their  way  thither  his  old  friend 
Captain  Israel  Stoughton  from  Dorchester,  with  a  band  of  Massachusetts  men,  joined  the 
expedition.  The  flying  Pequots  themselves,  now  stricken  with  the  terror  of  annihilation 
were  rapidly  pursued  through  the  forests  of  Ouinnipiac,  Cupheag,  Pequonock,  and  Uncoa 
to  a  swamp  lying  in  the  Sasqug  fields,  about  twenty-five  miles  South-west  of  New  Haven 
where,  before  another  day  had  passed,  Ludlow  witnessed  the  complete  overthrow  of  the 
most  powerful  enemy  of  the  English  in  the  colonies.  The  country  he  had  passed  through 
was  one  new  to  him.  Its  fine  scenery  &  maritime  advantages,  left  an  impression  upon 
his  mind  not  to  be  effaced.  Upon  his  return  to  Hartford  his  energies  were  employed  in 
legislating  for  the  benefit  of  the  colony,  establishing  peace  with  the  Indians  on  the  river, 
and  in  supplying  the  impoverished  inhabitants  of  the  settlements,  with  the  necessaries  of 
life  for  the  approaching  winter.  He  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to  send  a  vessel  to 
Massachusetts  for  corn  &  other  supplies  for  the  colonists.  He  was  also  appointed  with 
Mr.  George  Hull  of  Windsor,  to  traffic  with  the  Indians  for  the  inhabitants  of  that  town, 
for  beaver  on  the  Connecticut.  Committees  were  also  appointed  for  the  other  two  towns, 
&  no  others  were  allowed  to  trade  with  the  Indians  under  a  heavy  penalty. 

The  next  step  of  importance  taken  by  Ludlow  and  his  associates  towards  making 
Connecticut  an  independent  colony,  was  to  enter  into  a  voluntary  combination  for  the 
maintenance  of  a  "  public  state  or  commonwealth."  During  the  long  and  tedious  winter 
which  followed  the  Pequot  war,  Ludlow  with  the  council  of  his  associates  was  engaged  in 
preparing  a  frame  of  government  for  the  colony.  Here  he  had  an  opportunity  to  show 
his  ability  as  a  lawyer  and  a  statesman.  Here  too  a  golden  opportunity  was  offered  him 
to  triumph  over  those  who  had  so  grievously  wounded  him  in  Massachusetts,  in  opening 
a  wide  and  conciliatory  policy,  by  allowing  the  civil  franchise  to  rest,  not  upon  church 
membership,  but  upon  a  good  moral  character.  This  instrument,  was  the  first  Constitu- 
tion, of  Connecticut,  and  is  the  first  example  in  history  of  a  written  constitution — a  distinct 
organic  law,  constituting  a  government  and  defining  its  power.  Of  this  Constitution  Dr. 
Trumbull  says  :  "With  such  wisdom  did  our  venerable  ancestors  provide  for  the  freedom 
and  liberties  of  themselves  and  their  posterity.  Thus  happily  did  they  guard  against  every 
encroachment  on  the  rights  of  the  subjects.  This  probably  is  one  of  the  most  free  and 
happy  constitutions  of  civil  government  which  has  ever  been  formed."  Judge  Hollister 
writes  :  "  I  have  compared  this  paper  with  those  written  by  Milton,  expressive  of  his  views 
of  government  and  of  liberty.  In  the  political  writings  of  the  great  poet  I  can  see  the  marks 
of  unbounded  genius,  vast  imagination,  and  prophetic  hopes,  lighting  up  the  dim  horizon 
with  the  golden  promise  of  dawn.  But  I  find  in  them  no  well  digested  system  of  repub- 
licanism. He  deals  alone  with  the  absolute.  His  republic  would  befit  only  a  nation  of 
Miltons.  His  laws  are  fit  only  to  govern  those  who  are  capable  of  governing  themselves. 
But  Ludlow  views  the  concrete  and  the  abstract  at  once.  He  is  a  man  of  system — such 
systems  as  can  alone  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  frail  men  to  protect  them  against  their  worst 


APPENDIX  315 

enemies — their  own  lawless  passions."  Again  the  New  England  historian  Dr.  Palfrey 
writes  :  "  The  whole  Constitution  was  that  of  an  independent  state.  It  continued  in  force 
with  very  little  alteration,  a  hundred  and  eighty  years,  securing  throughout  that  period,  a 
degree  of  social  order  and  happiness  such  as  is  rarely  the  fruit  of  civil  institutions."  He 
also  says  "  The  instrument,  drawn  with  great  care  and  knowledge,  seems  to  bear  the 
marks  of  the  statesman-like  mind  of  Haynes  and  the  lawyer-like  mind  of  Ludlow." 
That  Ludlow  sought  the  approval  of  Haynes,  towards  whom  he  appears  to  have  exhibited 
no  personal  resentment,  is  probable  ;  but  the  instrument  is  one  which  exhibits  the  skill  of 
a  lawyer's  mind  and  phraseology  ;  and  when  compared  with  Ludlow's  Code  of  1649, 
leads  to  the  acknowledged  conclusion,  that  whatever  happy  influences  he  employed  at  that 
time,  no  other  hand  than  his  drew  the  first  Constitution  of  Connecticut.  On  the  1 1 .  of  April 
1639,  tne  magistrates  and  freemen  of  Connecticut  assembled  at  Hartford,  and  under  the 
Constitution,  proceeded  to  elect  their  officers  "  according  to  their  order"  John  Haynes 
was  chosen  governor,  and  Roger  Ludlow  deputy  governor.  The  election  of  Haynes  at  this 
time,  must  have  been  a  severe  disappointment  to  Ludlow,  yet  he  could  not  have  been  wholly 
unprepared  for  it.  Haynes  had  joined  the  colony  during  the  latter  part  of  the  previous 
spring.  He  had  been  exceedingly  popular  while  governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  his  coming 
to  Connecticut  was  considered  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  colony.  Probably  on  account 
of  the  dignity  attached  to  his  former  office  of  governor,  his  name  was  placed  before  that 
of  Ludlow's  in  the  order  of  the  list  of  magistrates,  at  the  assembling  of  the  General  Court 
on  the  following  November  ;  which  could  not  have  failed  to  give  Ludlow  a  timely  warning 
that  he  would  probably  be  elected  governor  of  Connecticut.  Whatever  disappointment 
Ludlow  suffered  at  that  time,  lie  remained  silent  ;  and  as  the  freemen  had  not  been  given 
the  privilege  of  holding  a  caucus,  he  no  doubt  felt  that  the  election  was  the  result  of  their 
honest  vote.  Experience  had  taught  him  that  "  truth  is  not  to  be  spoken  at  all  times  "  in 
a  body  politic, — at  least,  if  "  he  had  not  learned  the  art  so  common  in  our  age  of  telling 
the  people  precisely  what  he  did  not  believe  to  be  true,"  he  had  learned  to  master  himself; 
and  that  his  strength  lay  in  silent  submission  to  an  injustice  which  was  hard  to  bear.  It 
may  have  been  that  this  disappointment,  which  must  have  been  more  keenly  felt  than  that 
which  he  had  experienced  in  Massachusetts,  led  him  to  leave  Windsor.  The  probability  is, 
however,  that  the  charming  scenery,  fine  meadow  and  seaport  advantages  of  the  country 
near  the  borders  of  Long  Island  Sound,  through  which  he  had  pursued  the  Pequots, 
influenced  him,  as  soon  as  time  and  occasion  served,  to  plant  a  colony  near  the  spot  of 
the  final  extermination  of  that  hostile  tribe. 

In  granting  his  petition  the  General  Court  selected  Pequonnock  as  the  most  desirable 
point  for  a  settlement.  The  course  afterwards  pursued  by  the  Court  in  censuring  Lud- 
low for  exceeding  his  instructions  by  settling  at  Uncoway  instead  of  Pequonnock,  and 
fining  him  five  shillings  for  his  absence  from  a  court  held  in  September,  leads  to  the  con- 
clusion, that  there  existed  some  jealous  fear  lest  he  might  form  another  colony  south  of 
the  New  Haven  Colony.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  dissatisfaction  expressed  by  the  General 
Court  after  his  apology  for  the  step  he  had  taken,  certainly  exhibits  the  plain  fact,  that 
there  was  very  little  room  to  question  his  excellent  judgment  in  the  matter.  On  the  con- 
trary, they  might  much  better  have  given  him  a  vote  of  thanks  for  securing  to  the  Con- 
necticut Colony  one  of  the  most  valuable  tracts  along  the  Sound.  The  Herculean  work 
accomplished  by  Ludlow  at  Fairfield,  ever  vigilant,  zealous  and  unwearying  for  her  weal, 
gives  him  the  well  merited  title  of  the  Father  of  Fairfield.  Here  he  was  thrice  chosen 
deputy  governor  of  the  colony  and  several  times  made  a  commissioner  to  the  United 


316  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Colonies  of  New  England,  when  great  emergencies  called  for  the  wisdom  of  the  choicest 
minds.  He  was  annually  chosen  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  colony,  and  was  not  only 
the  first  judge  of  the  highest  court  of  Fairfield,  but,  after  the  organization  of  the  town,  its 
first  military  commander.  "  He  was  the  first  lawyer  who  came  into  Connecticut,  &  one 
of  the  greatest  who  has  ever  lived  in  the  state."  In  his  unpretentious  home,  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Ludlow  and  Windsor  streets,*  he  compiled  a  code  of  laws,  which  many 
years  afterwards,  was  destined  to  rank  him  among  the  leading  statesmen  of  the  age  in 
which  he  lived. 

The  sanction  given  by  Ludlow  to  the  declaration  of  war  against  the  Dutch  by  the 
citizens  of  Fairfield,  he  without  doubt  believed  one  of  military  necessity;  but  his  unfor- 
tunate step  in  accepting  the  office  of  commander-in-chief  was  a  rash  act.  There  exists, 
however,  no  evidence  to  show  that  he,  or  the  citizens  of  Fairfield,  who  thus  honored  him 
with  their  confidence,  had  the  slightest  idea  of  sedition.  It  was  "  the  impulsive  action  of 
those,  who,  foreseeing  their  own  imminent  peril,  and  hopeless  of  recovering  the  needed  aid 
from  a  source  whence  they  had  a  right  to  expect  it,  resolved  to  rise  in  their  own  defense." 
Nor  is  there  a  shadow  of  evidence  to  show,  that  Ludlow  or  his  fellow  townsmen  either 
sympathized  with,  or  countenanced  the  seditious  men,  who  lived  in  the  towns  under  the 
New  Haven  government.  On  the  contrary,  it  has  been  plainly  shown,  that  he  immediately 
notified  New  Haven  of  the  step  he  had  taken,  and  called  upon  them  for  armed  men  to 
assist  in  going  against  the  Dutch,  and  that  while  the  insurrectionists  were  under  arrest 
at  Fairfield,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  assisted  the  New  Haven  officers  to  quell  the 
tumult  they  had  raised  about  the  place  of  their  confinement. 

Ludlow  no  doubt  thought  this  a  golden  opportunity  to  bring  the  troublesome  Dutch- 
men of  New  Amsterdam  under  the  control  of  the  New  England  colonies.  The  United 
Colonies  had  applied  in  1653  to  Cromwell  "  for  help,  shipping  and  forces  "  to  prosecute  a 
war  against  the  Dutch,  which  were  hourly  expected  to  reach  New  England  ;  and  certainly 
no  more  favorable  opportunity  could  have  offered  for  such  a  design,  than  while  England 
was  at  war  with  Holland.  There  appears  but  little  doubt,  however,  that  the  old  jealousy 
which  had  existed  toward  him  was  strongly  roused  at  this  time,  especially  in  the  New 
Haven  Colony,  lest  his  ambition  might  tempt  him  to  establish  another  colony,  \vhichshould 
be  more  particularly  under  the  control  of  the  Mother-country,  and  perhaps  more  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  views  of  the  reformers  in  the  Church  of  England.  From  this  moment  he 
became  the  victim  of  animadversion  and  persecution,  especially  among  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Haven;  and  there  were  persons  who  attempted  to  rank  him  among  the  enemies  of 
the  commonwealth.!  The  fact  that  his  family  in  England,  while  opposed  to  the  arbitrary 
course  pursued  by  Charles  I.,  were  not  friendly  to  Cromwell,  might  also  have  been  another 
cause  for  awaking  suspicion  towards  him. 

Disgusted  with  the  sudden  coolness  of  the  magistrates  of  New  Haven,  who  had  advo- 
cated a  war  upon  the  Dutch  with  more  zeal  than  any  of  the  other  colonies  ;  and  had  even 
declared  that  Massachusetts  had  broken  the  articles  of  confederation,  in  refusing  to  prose- 
cute a  war  against  them,  Ludlow  resolved  to  leave  the  country.  In  his  consciousness  of 
no  intentional  guilt,  his  proud  and  sensitive  spirit  bowed  under  the  humiliations  heaped 
upon  him.  The  suit  brought  against  him  by  Thomas  Staples  for  reporting,  while  visiting 

*  At  the  present  date,  i88S,  the  property  of  O.  B.  Jennings. 

t  In  a  letter  sent  to  Robert  Basset  by  Abraham  Kimberly  the  statement  was  made  that >;  Baxter,''  one  of  the 
ringleaders  against  the  New  Haven  Colony,  "was  a  rogue  and  Ludlow  was  another.'' — New  Haven  Col.  Rec., 
Vol.  II.,  58. 


APPENDIX  317 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Davenport  of  New  Haven,  the  story  that  Mrs.  Staples  was  suspected  of 
witchcraft,  &c.,  thus  making  him  responsible  for  the  declarations  of  the  witch  Knap,  and 
a  majority  of  the  men  and  women  of  Fairfield,  was  another  source  of  deep  humiliation  to 
him.  The  course  afterwards  pursued  by  the  New  Haven  Colony  in  confiscating  the  vessel 
at  Milford,  which  he  had  engaged  to  carry  his  family  and  effects  to  Virginia,  must  have 
filled  him  with  indignation  and  almost  a  sense  of  degradation. 

For  nearly  two  centuries  the  general  belief  prevailed  that  Ludlow  went  to  Virginia,  & 
there  spent  his  days  in  seclusion  ;  but  this  was  not  the  case.  He  undoubtedly  went  to 
Virginia  with  his  family  to  pay  a  farewell  visit  to  his  brother  George  Ludlow,  who  lived 
in  Yorktown.  He  very  soon  after  left  the  country,  &  first  settled  at  Dublin  in  Ireland. 
He  appears  to  have  followed  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  for  soon  after  his  return,  he  was 
made  one  of  a  committee  with  Charles  Cocke  &  Thomas  Dunne,  "  to  whom  in  July, 
1656,  the  Council  at  Whitehall  referred  the  petition  of  Thomas  Jenner,  for  restitution  of 
goods,  which  had  been  taken  from  him  at  Boston,  under  a  commission  from  Major  Sedge- 
wick  &  Capt.  Leveret."*  Immediately  after  Cromwell's  death  he  removed  to  Holly- 
head,  an  island  in  the  county  of  Anglesia,  North  Wales,  a  parliamentary  town  of  con- 
siderable importance,  &  the  nearest  British  seaport  to  Dublin.  It  was  here,  while  the 
name  of  Ludlow  was  an  offense  in  the  ears  of  the  King,  that  he  first  ventured  to  take  up 
his  residence  in  his  native  country. 

Hitherto  little  has  been  known  of  Lucllow's  family  ;  but  the  following  document  pre- 
sented to  the  author  of  this  work  by  the  late  Joseph  Lemuel  Chester,  D.C.L.,  LL.D. ,  of 
London  (one  of  Connecticut's  most  honored  sons)  only  a  few  weeks  before  his  death, 
affords  an  interesting  &  valuable  clue  to  the  family  history  of  this  remarkable  man. 

i»4  South wark  Park  Road, 
London.  S.  E.  England. 
19  November  1881. 

Dear  Madam 

The  Pedigrees  entered  at  the  Herald's  Visitation  of  Wiltshire  give  the  descent  of  the  family  of  Ludlow,  of 
Hill  Deverill  in  that  county,  the  direct  line  of  which  is  as  follows  : — 

William  Ludlova  Esqr.  =  \ Margaret  dau.  &  heir  of  Wm  Rymer. 
Jo':n  Ludlow^ ;Lora.  dau.  of  Thos  Ringwood.  of  Ringwood.  Hants. 
John  Z«o7<7w=Phillippa  dau.  of  Wm  Bulstrode,  of  London. 
William  Lu^!ow=Joa.ne  dau.  of  Nichs  More  of  Whitford.  Hants.  Esq. 

George  Ludlow  £.ry.  =  Edith  dau.  of  Andrew.  Lord  Windsor, 
eldest  son  and  heir  of  Stanwell  co  Middlesex. 

She  died  in  1543. 


Edmund  Ludlow  Thomas  Ludlow 

of  Hill  Deverill.  Esq.  ad  Son. 

Son  &  heir. 

This  Thomas  Ludlow  is  supposed  to  be  the  ancestor  of  the  Ludlows  of  Warminster,  Wilts,  sometimes 
living  &  having  estates  at  Maiden  Bradley  in  that  county,  &  at  Butleigh  co.  Somerset.  There  is  little,  if  any, 
doubt,  that  such  was  the  case,  &  that  he  was  the  Thomas  Ludlow  with  whom  I  am  about  to  deal.  He  made  his 

*  Col.  Papers  Public  Record  Office,  London,  Vol.  13.  3.  i.  Extracted  by  Sir  Anthony  B.  Strausham  of 
London. 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Will  on  the  19.  of  November  1^07,  describing  himself  as  of  Dinton,  co.  Wilts,  Gentleman.  To  his  daughter  Anne, 
then  under  21  years  of  age  &  unmarried,  he  bequeathed  ^100.  His  wife  Jane  was  to  have  a  certain  annuity  out  of 
his  lands  at  Butleigh,  co.  Somerset,  which  were  to  descend  to  Gabriel  his  son.  His  wife  was  also  to  have  his 
household  goods  at  Butleigh  &  at  Warminster,  Wilts,  &  to  be  his  executrix.  He  made  his  brother,  Sir  Gabriel 
Pyle,  Knight,  overseer  of  the  Will. 

The  will  was  proved  at  London,  in  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  on  the  8th  of  June  1608,  by  the 
relict  Jane  Ludlow.  How  or  why  he  came  to  be  of  Dinton  at  his  death  is  unimportant.  His  identity  is  the  chief 
question,  &  that  is  clear  enough.  His  wife  Jane  survived  him  about  40  years,  which  shows  that  he  must  have  died 
comparatively  young.  She  made  her  Will  on  the  ioth  of  December  1646,  describing  herself  as  of  Baycliffe,* 
Wilts,  widow.  The  following  is  a  full  abstract  of  it:--"  To  the  poor  of  Maiden  Bradley  20  shillings,  &  of  War- 
minster  20  shillings, — to  my  son  Roger  L iidlow,  one  of  my  wedding  rings  ;  and  to  my  son  George  Ludlo^v,  my 
other  one— To  Thomas,  one  of  the  sons  of  my  son  Gabriel  Ludlow,  .£5.;  to  Francis,  another  of  his  sons,  my  nag 
colt  &  gilt  silver  salt ;  and  to  John,  another  of  his  sons  £10.—  To  Ann,  Elizabeth  &  Sarah,  daughters  of  my  said 
son  Gabriel,  each  £10.  The  residue  of  my  estate,  to  my  daughter  in  law  Phillis  Ludlow,  &  I  appoint  her  my 
executrix.  The  will  was  proved  in  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  on  the  6'h  of  July  1650,  by  Phillis  Lud- 
low the  executrix." 

It  is  important  to  note  just  here  that  she  made  her  daughter-in-law  her  executrix,  instead  of  one  of  her  sons 
which  would  ordinarily  have  been  an  unnatural  proceeding.  What  was  the  probable  cause  for  this  ?  Simply,  that 
her  eldest  son  Gabriel  was  already  dead,  &  her  other  two  sons,  George  &  Roger,  had  emigrated  to  America. 
She  therefore,  most  naturally,  made  the  widow  of  Gabriel,  who  was  still  in  England  with  her  family,  her  residu- 
ary legatee  &  executrix,  remembering,  however,  her  two  absent  sons,  by  the  bequests  of  rings.  Nothing  could  be 
more  clear  than  this. 

This  Jane  Ludlow,  wife  &  widow  of  Thomas,  was  the  sister  of  Sir  Gabriel  Pile,  Kt.,  of  Wiltshire,  who 
died  in  1627.  The  daughter  Anne  is  not  named  in  her  mother's  will,  &  was  therefore  probably  dead. 

Gabriel  Ludlow,  the  eldest  son,  was  admitted  to  the  Inner  Temple,  London,  in  November  1610,  being 
described  as  of  Butleigh,  co.  Somerset.  He  became  a  Barrister  in  1620,  &  a  Bencher  in  1637.  He  was  evi- 
dently dead  at  the  date  of  his  mother's  will,  in  1646,  but  I  have  been  unable  to  find  his  will.  His  widow 
Phillis,  made  hers  on  the  12^.  of  September  1657,  &  it  was  proved  on  the  i8th  of  December  following.  All  the 
children  named  in  the  Will  of  her  mother-in-law  were  still  living  ;  &  to  her  son  Thomas  she  bequeathed  a  ring 
that  had  been  given  to  her  by  his  "  uncle  George  Ludlow." 

Roger  Ludlow  was  evidently  the  second  son  of  Thomas  &  Jane  Ludlow.  He  was  also  admitted  to  the  Inner 
Temple,  in  November  1612,  being  described  as  the  son  of  Thomas  Ludlow  then  of  Maiden  Bradley,  but  he  does 
not  appear  to  have  become  a  Barrister.  We  here  find,  however,  where  &  how  he  obtained  his  knowledge  of  legal 
matters,  which  stood  him  in  stead  in  New  England,  &  enabled  him  to  compile  that  wonderful  code  known  in 
modern  history  as  the  li  Blue  Laws."  Of  him  more  hereafter. 

George  Ludloiu,  the  youngest  of  the  three  brothers,  also  left  a  Will,  which  is  fortunately  on  record  in  Lon- 
don, &  which  gives  the  clue  to  the  solution  of  the  whole  mystery.  The  Will  was  dated  on  the  8th  of  September 
1655,  &  I  give  a  full  abf  tract  of  it. 

"  I,  George  Ludlow,  of  the  county  &*  parish  of  York,  in  Virginia,  Esquire.  &c —  To  my  nephew  Thomas 
Ludlow,  eldest  son  to  my  brother  Gabriel  Ludlow  Esquire,  deceased,  &  to  his  heirs  forever,  all  my  estate  in 
Virginia,  also  my  i6th  of  the  Ship  Mayflower,  whereof  Capt.  Wm  White  is  Commander,  which  I  bought  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Harwar,  of  London,  Merchant,  &  I  appoint  him  sole  executor  of  my  estate  in  Virginia,  he  to  pay  my 
now  wife  Elizabeth  ,£50.  per  annum  for  her  life,  in  London,  in  full  satisfaction  of  her  claims  on  my  estate. —  My 
crop  this  year  to  be  consigned  to  Mr.  William  Allen,  of  London,  Merchant,  &  Mr.  John  Gray  that  lives  at  the 
Green  Man  on  Ludgate  Hill,  &  they  to  receive  the  monies  due  me  from  Mr.  Samuel  Harwar,  at  the  Sun  & 
Harp  in  Milk  Street,  London —  To  each  of  my  brother  Gabriel's  children  now  in  England  £100,  out  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  said  crop.  &  the  residue  of  said  proceeds  to  go  to  my  brother  Roger  Ludlo-di's  children  —  To  my 
said  brother  Roger  ,£100.  which  I  lent  him  —  To  George,  son  to  Col.  Wm  Bernard,  my  great  silver  tankard  with 
my  arms  upon  it."  [Sundry  small  bequests  to  friends  &  other  persons  evidently  not  relations.] 

*  Baycliff  was  a  priory  in  the  reign  of  Henry  III,  &  was  escheated  to  the  Crown  when  the  dissolution  of 
religious  houses  was  ordered  by  Henry  VIII.  at  which  time  it  was  granted  to  Sir  Edmund  Seymour,  Viscount 
Bcuchamp,  afterward  Earl  of  Hertford  &  Duke  of  Summerset.  It  descended  by  entail  to  his  son  Edward  Earl 
of  Hertford,  by  a  second  marriage  with  Anne  Stanhope,  who,  by  her  deed  in  1601  sold  it  to  Sir  John  Morley, 
Knight,  &  he  the  following  year  1602  sold  it  to  Sir  Edmund  Ludlow  of  Hill  Deverill  Knight,  it  being  then  occupied 
by  Jane  widow  of  Thomas  Ludlow,  by  lease  from  Edward  Earl  of  Hertford.  The  Ludlows  of  Hill  Deverill  held 
a  lease  of  three  lives  in  the  Seymour  estate.  This  estate  covered  1420  acres  of  land.  The  Marquis  of  Bath 
now  holds  103  acres,  comprising  the  manor  of  Hill  Deverill.— Hoar's  Wiltshire. 


APPENDIX  319 

Codicil,  dated  23^  of  October,  1655—"  In  case  my  said  nephew  Thomas  Ludlow  marry  one  Rebecca  Hurst, 
now  living  in  my  house,  I  give  my  said  estate  in  Virginia  to  Jonathan  Ludlow,  my  nephew,  eldest  son  of  my 
brother  Roger  Ludlow,  who  lives  at  Dublin  in  Ireland \  &  he  to  be  sent  for  &c.M 

The  Will  was  proved  in  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  on  the  ist  of  August  1656,  &,  no  executor  being 
named  as  to  the  estate  in  England,  Letters  of  administration,  with  the  will  annexed,  were  granted  to  Roger 
Ludlow,  £s$.,  the  father  &  curator  assigned  of  Jonathan,  Joseph,  Roger,  Anne,  Mary,  &  Sarah  Ludlow, 
minors,  the  nephews  &  nieces  of  the  testator. 

Nothing  could  be  more  intelligible  &  decisive  than  this.  It  was  George  Ludlow  who  went  to  Virginia 
when  he  quitted  New  England,  while  Roger,  on  leaving  there  in  1654,  returned  to  the  old  country,  &  in  1655  was 
living  in  Dublin.  It  will  be  noticed  that  Roger's  daughter  Sarah,  whom  Savage  says  afterwards  married  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Brewster,  is  mentioned  in  the  enumeration  of  his  children.  It  seems  impossible,  with  all  these  facts 
to  doubt  the  complete  identification. 

I  have  so  far  been  unable  to  trace  Roger  Ludlow's  history  any  later.  I  have  not  found  his  will  here,  &  if  he 
made  one,  &  continued  to  reside  at  Dublin,  it  is  no  doubt  in  the  Probate  Registry  there.  I  shall  continue,  as 
opportunity  serves,  to  look  for  later  intelligence  about  him  &  his  family,  as  he  was  to  some  extent  an  historical 
personage,  &  if  I  discover  any  further  facts  they  can  perhaps  be  used  on  some  future  occasion. 

Believe  me,  Madam, 

Faithfully  yours, 

Joseph  Lemuel  Chester,  D.C.L.,  LL.D. 
Mrs.  E.  H.  Schenck, 
Southport,  Conn. 

Roger  Ludlow  married  a  sister  of  Governor  John  Endicott.  It  is  probable  that  this 
marriage  did  not  take  place  until  after  he  came  to  America*  as  none  of  his  children  were 
of  age  when  he  left  New  England.  One  of  his  children  was  born  at  Windsor,  and  proba- 
bly most  of  his  other  children  were  born  at  Fairrield.  His  daughter  Sarah  married 
Nathaniel  Brewster.  "  She  is  represented  as  a  person  eminently  distinguished  for  her 
genius  and  literary  acquirements."  Savage  supposes  her  husband  Nathaniel  Brewster 
to  have  been  a  son  of  Francis  Brewster  of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  and  a  nephew  of  the 
celebrated  Elder  Brewster,  of  the  Plymouth  Colony.  He  was  a  graduate  in  1642  of  the 
first  class  of  Harvard  College,  and,  on  account  of  the  liberality  allowed  at  that  time  to  all 
classes  of  Christians,  he  with  most  of  his  class  returned  to  England.  He  received  the 
degree  of  B.D.  from  the  Dublin  University,  and  was  settled  as  a  minister  over  the  parish 
of  Alby  in  Norfolk  County.  It  was  during  his  residence  in  England  that  he  married 
Sarah  Ludlow.  Upon  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  Episcopacy  being  again  restored, 
Brewster  returned  with  his  wife  to  New  England,  and  from  Oct.  1663  preached  at 
the  First  Church  in  Boston.  He  was  settled  over  the  church  of  Brookhaven,  Long  Island, 
in  1665,  where  he  continued  his  pastoral  duties  for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
1690.  Both  he  and  his  wife  "  were  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  burying-ground  of  Setauket, 
but  the  inscriptions  on  their  tomb  stones  are  too  much  effaced  to  be  read."  They  left 
three  sons,  John,  Timothy,  and  Daniel,  whose  numerous  descendants  are  still  found 
there. f 

Capt.  Caleb  Brewster  of  Black  Rock,  who  distinguished  himself  in  the  Revolution,  was 
one  of  the  descendants  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Brewster  and  his  wife  Sarah  Ludlow.  His 
grand-son,  Caleb  Brewster  Hackley,  who  now  resides  at  Black  Rock,  is  the  sole  surviving 
representative  in  Fairfield  of  this  distinguished  family.  Still  further  light  is  thrown  upon 
the  family  pedigree  of  Roger  Ludlow,  by  Sir  Anthony  B.  Strausham,  of  London. 

*  The  Memoirs  of  Governor  Endicott,  by  William  Cogswell,  D  D.  —New  England  History  and  Genealogical 
Register,  Vol.  I.,  203. 

t  Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary. 


320 


HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD 


"  Arms  of  Ludlowe  of  Hulle  als    Hill  Deverell,  Co  Wilts.— Argent  a  cheveron,  between  3  bears  heads, 
erased,  sable. 

Harl.  MS.  1881  Fo.  116  [Abbreviated  :] 
William  Ludlowe  of  Hill  Deverel  Co.  Wilts. 
=  Margaret  dau.  &  heir  of 
1    William  Rymer  &  of  ...  his  wife 
dau.  &  heir  of  Willm  Warnell. 


B..  1500 


B.  1530 


B.  1560 


George  = 


i  Son  Edmund  =  zd  son  Thomas  =  Jane  Pile  * 


B.  1590 


i  Son  Henry  = 


Edmund  (the  regicide,  born  1620  d.  1692  at  Vevay  Switzerland.)  S.  P.  Hoar's  Wiltshire. 

"  Thomas  Ludlow  was  brother  of  Sir  Edmund  Ludlow,  great  uncle  of  the  regicide ;  he  resided  at  Diton 
(' juxta  Warminster')  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas  Pyle,  the  sister  of  Sir  Gabriel  Pyle  of  Babton,  Fish- 
erton  de  la  Mere  Wilts."  Hoar's  Wiltshire. 


The  Pedigree  of  Roger  Ludlow's  mother  Jane  Pyle. 

Harl.  MS.     1165,  fo.  70.     Wilts  Visitation  1623.     Arms    of  Pile — Argent  on  a  cross 
gules,  a    martlet    Argent,  between  4  passion    nails,  gules    impaling,  or  on  a  bend    azure, 

three  pheons  or. 

Elizab.  :  dau.  Rad. 
Laugrish  (])  of  Boodon 
Son Laugrish 


Thomas  Pile  of 

Babton   in  Co  Wilts        = 
Son  &  heir 


of  Laugrish  in  Co.  Somerset 

(should  be  Laudgridge) 


Christian 
wife  .... 
Ea-th  de 
Com. 

Anna  wife 
Tho's.  Browne 
of  Martin 
Sho  .  .  .  .  Wilts 

1 
Gabriel  Pile 
of  Bubton  in    = 
Co.  Wilts 
Soldier 

Anna  dau.  of  Thomas 
=     Porter  of  Newarke 
in  Com.  citizen 
Glouc 
Soldier 

Jane  wife  of 
Tho's.  Ludlow 
near  War- 
minster,  (!) 
in  Wilts 

Francis  Pile 
Son  &  heir  aged 
34  years  time  of 
Visitation  1623 

1 
Elizab.  dau.  2                          Tho's.  Pile 
=         Francis  Popham  (3)                2.  Son 
of  Little  cott                           aged  33. 
Co  Wilts 

1 
3  Willm 

22. 

(4) 

4  Gabriel  (5)  28. 

Francis  Pile  Seamour                                   Elizab.                                              2  Amia 

oldest  son  2  son                                         a.  2%  years                                      a  6  months 

a.  6  years  a.  5  years 

1623  1623 

Harl.  1393.  fo.  24.  246  slight  mention. 

Harl.  i  in  fo.  96.  "  Sir  Gabriel  Pyle  of  Bubton  in  Wiltshire  had  issue.     Francis  Pyle  Esqu.  m.— dau.  of  Sir 
Thomas  Porter." 


(Signed)  THOMAS  PILE 


1  Langridge.  -  Father  &  mother  of  Roger  Ludlow.  3  Sir  Francis  Popham.   4  Third  son  William  ought  to  be  32. 

6  WinterslcAy  church  Hundred  Aldersbury  "  under  this  marble  slab  lieth  buried  Gabriel  Pile  Esqr.  fourth 
sonne  of  Sir  Gabriel  Pile  Kt  ;  who  departed  this  life  xxiii  Daye  of  August  1639."—"  Sir  Gabriel  Pile  probably 
born  1559,  his  sister  Jane  1560."— Research  of  Sir  Anthony  B.  Strausham.  London,  Eng. 

"  Gabriel  Ludlow,  son  of  Thomas  Ludlow  and  Jane  Pyle,  in  1638  alienated  Baycliff  to  his  brother  Thomas, 
preparing  for  a  voyage  to  New  England,— more  fortunate  than  some  others  who  were  prevented,  he  actually 
performed  the  voyage — no  clear  proof  he  ever  returned." — Hoar's  Wiltshire. 

*  Father  &  mother  of  Roger  Ludlow. 


APPENDIX  321 

Here  is  the  solution  why  Mrs.  Jane  Ludlow  appointed  Phillis,  the  wife  of  the  above 
Gabriel,  as  her  executrix.  Her  son,  Gabriel,  no  doubt  died  soon  after  he  reached  Amer- 
ica.* No  mention  as  yet,  has  been  found  of  any  other  Gabriel  Ludlow,  living  in  America 
but  Gabriel  Ludlow  who  settled  in  New  York  in  1697. 

It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  that  the  name  of  Roger  Ludlow  should  not  be  men- 
tioned in  the  Herald  Visitations  of  Wilts  County.f  His  identity  is  only  established  by  his 
mother's  will,  and  in  that  is  abundant  proof  that  he  was  her  second  son.  His  father  must 
have  been  born  between  1562  and  1565,  and  married  to  Jane  Pyle  when  young,  for 
Roger  as  early  as  November  1612  had  been  admitted  to  the  Inner  Temple  in  London. 
Admitting  that  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  at  that  time,  he  must  have  been  nearly 
forty  when  he  came  to  New  England  in  1630  ;  and  over  sixty  when  he  returned  to 
England. 

It  is  plainly  to  be  seen  by  this  valuable  paper  that  Jane  Pyle,  the  mother  of  Roger 
Ludlow,  was  the  sister  of  Sir  Gabriel  Pyle,  Kt. ;  and  own  aunt  of  Elizabeth  Pyle,  wife  of 
Sir  Francis  Popham,  which  made  Roger  Ludlow  an  own  cousin  of  Sir  Francis  Popham 
(the  son  of  Chief  Justice  John  Popham,  and  nephew  of  Sir  George  Popham),  who  contin- 
ued the  efforts  of  his  father  to  form  a  permanent  settlement  on  the  coast  of  Maine  begun 
at  Sagadahoc  in  16074 

It  has  been  shown  from  the  above  pedigree  of  Roger  Ludlow,  that  his  father,  Thomas 
Ludlow,  was  an  uncle  of  Sir  Henry  Ludlow  (who  was  a  member  of  the  Long  Parliament 
in  1640  from  Wiltshire),  and  great-uncle  of  Lieut.  Gen.  Edmund  Ludlow  the  regicide. 
The  latter  in  his  memories  mentions  his  cousin  Roger  Ludlow.  Lieutenant-general 
Edmund  Ludlow,  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  court  which  condemned  Charles  I.  to  death. 
He  acquired  high  renown  as  a  soldier  and  orator  in  the  civil  struggle  of  that  period.  By 
the  sudden  death  of  Ireton  in  1607  the  command  of  the  English  army  in  Ireland,  devolved 
upon  him.  "  While  he  was  one  of  the  strongest  advocates  in  England  for  the  liberties  of 
the  people  against  the  encroachments  of  the  crown,  he  opposed  the  aspirations  of  Crom- 
well to  the  protectorate,  and  failing  in  this,  he  fled  from  England  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Vevay  Switzerland."  He  is  sometimes  called  the  Republican  General.  Soon  after  the 
ascension  of  Charles  II.  to  the  throne,  he  ventured  to  return  to  England,  but  the  king 
immediately  stripped  him  of  his  estates,  and  he  was  obliged  to  flee  from  the  kingdom  for 
his  life.  He  returned  to  Vevay,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1693.  His  remains 
were  buried  under  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Martin's  at  Vevay  and  near  his  tomb  are  those  of 
Broughton,  Gawler  and  Love.  While  at  Vevay  he  wrote  a  valuable  history  of  the 
stormy  period  in  which  he  lived,  entitled  "  Memoirs  of  Lieutenant  General  Edmund 
Ludlow." 

*  In  the  Memoirs  of  Gen.  Edmund  Ludlow,  he  mentions  his  cousin,  Capt.  Gabriel  Ludlow,  as  having  fallen 
in  the  obstinate  contest  of  Newbery,  24  Sept  1644.  An  old  Common  Place  book,  compiled  by  one  John  Ludlow 
of  Warminster  about  1720,  makes  the  above  Capt.  Gabriel  Ludlow  a  resident  of  Baycliff. 

In  1633  Gabriel  Ludlow.  son  of  Thomas  and  Jane,  styled  Receiver  General  of  the  Duchy  of  Lancaster,  by  his 
deed  of  settlement,  declares  himself  to  be  then  seized  of  Baycliff  in  demesne  as  of  fee.  He  had  four  children, 
Gabriel,  Thomas,  Francis  and  Anne  baptized  at  Warminster,  where,  with  his  brother  Thomas  he  held  the  prebend. 
He  had  other  children  baptized  at  Maiden  Bradley,  being  then  called  of  Baycliff  Esqr.  In  1638  he  alienated  Bay- 
cliff  to  his  brother  Thomas  and  prepared  for  a  voyage  to  New  England  &c.— Hoare's  Wiltshire. 

t  Since  writing  the  above  the  author  has  had  access  to  the  English  County  publications  now  in  the  Congres- 
sional Library  of  the  Capitol  at  Washington,  D.  C.  In  Vol.  I.  of  Hoards  Wiltshire,  he  regrets  that  the  church 
records  of  Hill  Deverill  should  have  been  destroyed  which  would  have  thrown  much  light  upon  the  interesting 
history  of  the  Ludlow  family. 

\  See  '•  Relation  of  a  Voyage  to  Sagadahoc,"  by  Rev.  B.  F.  De  Casta. 


322  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

His  family  were  dispersed  under  Cromwell. 

Among  the  Domestic  Reports  to  be  found  in  the  British  Museum  is  the  following 
statement : 

"  A°  1664,  No.  27,  Jan.  ^5,  Rotterdam  "  H  Parker  to  John  Thompson  (alias  Ed  Riggs,  lo  Sec.  Bennet) 
There  are  more  fanatics  in  Rotterdam  than  anywhere  else.  Understand  that  Wheeler  and  Ludlow  are  in  the 
Holland  plantations  in  New  England  &  are  reported  well." 

The  Ludlow  referred  to  at  this  time,  was  no  doubt  some  near  relative  of  Lieut.  Ed- 
mund Ludlow,  and  probably  the  Henry  Ludlow  who  was  made  a  freeman  by  the  General 
Court  of  Connecticut,  May  12,  1664,  to  whom  with  several  others,  the  commissioners  ol 
Huntingdon  L.  I.,  were  appointed  "  to  administer  the  oath  of  freedom."* 

One  Gabriel  Ludlow  f  came  to  New  York  in  1694,  and  married,  April  15,  1697, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hamner,  D.D.,  deceased,  chaplain  to  His  Majesty's 
forces  in  the  Province  of  New  York  in  America.  He  was  one  of  the  first  vestrymen  of 
Trinity  church  New  York  in  1697.- — Their  son  William  Ludlow  married  Mary  Duncan 
Aug.  10.  1731. — Their  son  Gabriel  William  Ludlow,  married  Aug.  28.  1764,  Cornelia, 
daughter  of  Charles  Crooke,  who  was  the  son  of  John  Crooke,  one  of  the  first  vestrymen 
of  Trinity  church  New  York  in  1697.  Their  son  Charles  Ludlow,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  Van  Horn  and*  Elizabeth  French  (daughter  of  Philip  French,  N.  Y.) 
Their  children  were  Cornelia  Ann,  born  June  13.  1788,  and  Elizabeth.  Cornelia  Ann 
married  Abraham  Willink  May  2.  1816,  who  died  31  of  May  1852.  He  was  the  son  of 
William  Willink,  an  eminent  banker  and  financier  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  who  was  an 
early  friend  of  the  American  Republic,  and  rendered  great  service  to  the  country  by 
making  the  first  loan.  He  was  also  one  of  the  original  holders  in  the  property  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company.  Elizabeth  Ann  Willink  died  18.  of  November  1865.  Her  sister 
Elizabeth  Ludlow  perpetuated  the  family  name  by  erecting  Ludlow  and  Willink  Hall 
of  St.  Stephen's  College  Annandale,  N.  Y.  to  her  memory.:): 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Gabriel  Ludlow  who  came  to  New  York  in  1694,  was 
the  progenitor  of  the  Ludlows  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and  that  this  branch  of  the 
Ludlow  family  did  not  become  extinct  as  has  been  thought  upon  the  death  of  Elizabeth 
Ludlow  and  her  sister  Mrs.  Cornelia  Ann  Wilkins.  It  does  not  appear  whose  son  the 
above  Gabriel  was,  but  probably  of  a  grandson  of  Gabriel  the  brother  of  Roger  Ludlow,  or 
of  some  collateral  branch  of  his  family.  The  name  Gabriel  occurs  frequently  in  Hoar's 
copy  of  the  Wiltshire  parish  records.  The  Virginia  Ludlows,  are  probably  descendants  of 
Thomas  son  of  Gabriel  and  his  brother  Roger  Ludlow. 

The  Ludlows  were  an  ancient  and  worthy  family  from  Shropshire,  from  whence  they 
removed  to  Wiltshire  after  the  Castle  of  Ludlow  was  confiscated  in  the  reign  of  Henry  I. 
"They  possessed  such  an  estate  as  placed  them  in  the  first  rank  of  gentlemen  ;  and  their 
personal  merits,  usually  concurring  with  their  fortunes,  gave  them  just  pretenses  as 
knights  of  the  Shire,  to  stand  as  candidates  to  represent  their  county  in  Parliament,  an 
honor  they  seldom  failed  to  attain." 

Wiltshire  is  celebrated  for  its  British  and  Roman  antiquities.  But  a  short  distance 
from  the  road  leading  to  Long  Bridge  Deverill  is  the  little  sequestered  village  of  Hill  Dev- 
erill,  where,  in  two  fields  immediately  behind  the  parish  church,  are  to  be  seen  the  usual 

*  Col.  Rec.  Conn..  Vol.  I.,  p.  428. 

't  This  Gabriel    Ludlow  was  born  Nov.  2.  1663  at  Castle  Bay  in  Somerset  Co. ,  and    was   a  son  of  Gabriel 
Ludlow  of  Trome  (Somerset).     Letter  of  Thomas  W.  Ludlow  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 
;  J  Laying  of  the  Corner-Stone  of  Ludlow  and  Willink  Hall,  1866. 


APPENDIX  323 

irregu'arities  in  the  ground,  which  mark  the  site  of  a  British  settlement  ;  and  in  digging 
are  to  be  found  the  pottery,  bricks  and  flues  of  the  Romanized  Britons.  Near  by,  in  the 
woods  of  Southby,  are  earth  works  almost  square  in  form,  containing  in  its  area  within 
the  ditch,  about  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  ground,  called  Robin  Hood's  Bower.  The 
church,  which  contains  the  Ludlow  &  Coker  tomb,  with  the  armorial  bearing  of  this 
family,  is  a  small  building  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  Wiley,  a  short  distance 
from  the  ancient  mansion-house  of  the  Ludlows  &  Cokers. 

Gen.  Edmund  Ludlow  inherited  the  estate  of  his  father  Henry  Ludlow  of  Hill  Deverill. 
He  dying  childless,  what  was  left  of  his  estate  after  its  confiscation,  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  Coker  family,  by  the  marriage  of  Elizabeth,  daughter  and  sole  heir  of  Sir 
Henry  Ludlow  of  Sedley  with  Sir  Henry  Coker,  3<1  son  of 'William  Coker  Esqr.  of  May- 
powder  Co.  Dorset.  It  next  fell  into  the  possession  of  Thomas  Coker,  who,  Hoar  says, 
lived  long  enough  to  see  the  end  of  their  once  ample  possessions. 

"  The  village  of  Monkton  Deverill  presents  a  mean  appearance  ;  but  the  traveler,  on  riding  through  it,  will 
be  somewhat  surprised  at  seeing  inserted  in  the  wall  of  a  dwelling-house,  now  occupied  by  a  wheelwright,  a  very 
handsome  escutcheon  of  arms,  engraved  within  a  rich  border  ;  and  as  his  curiosity  will  be  naturally  excited  to 
know  the  why  and  the  -wherefore  it  became  so  degraded,  I  shall  give  him  the  best  account  of  it  I  have  been 
able  to  procure. 

The  shield  incloses  six  quarterings.  It  is  surmounted  by  a  helmet,  and  has  two  animals  as  supporters.  Beneath 
the  escutcheon  are  two  tablets  with  a  tree  in  their  centre,  to  which  three  animals  (apparently  dogs)  are  running  for 
shelter.  One  of  these  tablets  has  these  letters  inscribed  on  it,  Rvina  Prementi ;  the  other,  SvbeVtibvs  vmbra, 
the  letter  n  being  left  out.  The  first  and  sixth  arms  on  this  shield  are  those  of  Ludlow  ;  viz.  Argent,  a  chevron 
between  three  martins'  heads  erased  Sable.  The  second  represents  the  arms  of  Rymer  ;  Gules,  a  tree  eradicated 
Or,  summounted  by  a  greyhound  A  rgent,  collared  Sable.  The  third  those  of  Bulstrode  :  Sable,  a  stag's  head  ca- 
boshed  Argent;  between  the  attires  a  cross  Or,  transpierced  through  the  nostrils  by  an  arrow  of  the  last,  barbed 
and  flighted  of  the  second,  vulned  Gules.  The  fourth  are  the  bearings  of  More  :  Argent,  two  bars  Azure  between 
ten  martlets  four,  three  and  three,  Gules.  The  fifth  those  of  Coker :  Argent,  on  a  bend  Gules  three  leopards' 
faces  Or,  alluding  to  the  marriage  of  Sir  Edmund  Ludlow  with  Bridget,  daughter  and  heir  of  Henry  Coker,  of 
Mapowder,  c5  Dorset.  These  are  the  arms  of  Ludlow,  of  Hill  Deverill,  co  Wilts,  as  annexed  to  the  record  of  the 
pedigree  of  that  family  at  the  Herald's  Visitation  of  the  County  of  Wilts,  anno  1565. 

The  animals  on  each  side  of  the  shield  appear  to  be  supporters  ;  but  being  headless  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  animals  they  were  intended  to  represent,  but  probably  martins  ;  and  I  cannot  learn  that  this  family  had  a 
right  to  supporters. 

These  pretended  supporters  can  have  no  reference  to  those  borne  by  Earl  Ludlow,  the  lineal  descendant  of 
the  Ludlows  of  Hill  Deverill,  viz.,  two  stags :  and  I  am  inclined  to  attribute  to  Edmund,  son  of  Henry  of  Tadley, 
this  curious  shield  of  arms,  and  the  motto  of  ruina  pretnenti  subeuntibits  umbra,  with  the  device  of  tAretdogs 
running  to  a  tree  for  shelter,  might  allude  to  the  hard  usage  which  the  aforesaid  Edmund  met  with  from  his 
family,  and  of  which  he  complains  in  his  Will  ;  and  under  the  three  dogs  may  be  figured  his  three  brothers, 
the  authors  of  his  persecution."  * 

A  strong  effort  has  been  made  by  the  author  to  ascertain  some  history  of  the  last  days 
of  Roger  Ludlow  after  he  settled  at  Hollyhead  ;  but  thus  far  it  has  proved  fruitless.  There 
may  be  some  truth  in  the  tradition  that  he  spent  his  last  days  in  Virginia,  while  guardian 
of  his  children's  rights  in  the  estate  of  his  brother  George  Ludlow.  It  has  been  ascer- 
tained that  his  wife  died  in  England,  but  no  record  of  his  death  has  thus  far  been  found 
there.  This  is  to  be  regretted,  as  his  life  in  New  England  is  so  valuably  interwoven  with 
its  early  history.  He  was  certainly  not  only  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  who  lived 
in  New  England,  but  one  who  rendered  great  service  in  establishing  the  government  of 
Connecticut  on  a  basis  so  firmly  and  truly  republican  in  its  principles,  that  he  justly  merited 
the  honor  of  being  called  the  Father  of  Connecticut  Jurisprudence.  Had  he  remained 
in  New  England,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  distinguished  himself  in  adding  further 
luster  to  Connecticut  and  to  the  town  of  Fairfield. 

*  Hoarc's  Wiltshire,  Vol.  I.,  177,  178. 


324  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

No.  II 

SUIT   OF   THOMAS    STAPLES   AGAINST     ROGER     LUDLOW 
NEW    HAVEN   COL.  REC.  VOL.  3.   77-89 

On  the  29.  of  May  1654  the  famous  slander  suit  of  Thomas  Staples  against  Roger 
Ludlow,  was  brought  before  the  Court  at  New  Haven.  Governor  Eaton  Deputy  Gover- 
nor Stephen  Goodyear,  Francis  Newman,  William  Fowler  &  William  Leete  presided  as 
judges  at  the  trial.  John  Banks  of  Fairfield  appeared  as  attorney  for  Thomas  Staples,  & 
Ensign  Alexander  Bryan  of  Milford  for  Roger  Ludlow.  John  Banks  opened  the  case, 
stating  that  Mr.  Ludlow  had  defamed  Mrs.  Staples'  character  by  reporting  to  Mr.  &  Mrs. 
Davenport  of  New  Haven,  "  that  Mrs.  Staples  had  laid  herself  under  a  new  suspicion  of 
being  a  witch,"  that  she  was  exceedingly  untruthful  ;  that  she  had  openly  denied  the  witch 
goodwife  Knapp  bore  the  marks  of  a  witch  upon  her  person;  &  that  goodwife  Knapp  told 
him  at  the  time  of  her  execution  that  Mrs.  Staples  was  a  witch. 

Mr.  Davenport  was  then  asked  to  make  oath  to  his  testimony,  which  he  at  first  declined 
to  do,  on  the  ground  that  he  regarded  an  oath  an  ordinance  of  God  for  confirmation  of 
truth,  to  end  strife  among  men  according  to  Heb.  6.  16,  "  but  afterwards  declared  as  fol- 
lows :  That  while  sitting  one  evening  with  him  &  Mrs.  Davenport  alone,  Mr.  Ludlow 
talked  with  him  about  Knapp's  wife,  the  witch;  &  told  them  that  at  her  execution  she 
came  down  from  the  ladder  &  desired  to  speak  with  him  alone,  at  which  time  she 
informed  him  who  the  witch  was,  spoken  of  by  goodwife  Basset  the  Stratford  witch  ;  & 
that  upon  his  or  his  wife's  asking  who  it  was,  Mr.  Ludlow  said  she  named  goodwife  Staples. 
Mr.  Davenport  replied  that  he  believed  it  utterly  untrue,  &  spoken  out  of  malice."  Mr. 
Ludlow  answered  he  hoped  better  of  her,  but  said  she  was  a  foolish  woman.  He  then 
related  to  them,  that  Mrs.  Staples  with  some  other  women  in  Fairfield,  examined  goodwife 
Knapp's  body  after  her  execution,  to  find  some  marks  of  a  witch  ;  £  Mrs.  Staples  declared 
that  Knapp's  wife  "  had  no  more  marks  of  a  witch  upon  her  than  she  had."  Mr.  Daven- 
port said  "  he  disliked  what  Mr.  Ludlow  had  told  him,  not  having  heard  anything  from 
others  in  that  particular,  either^or  or  against  her  ;  but  supposed  Mr.  Ludlow  told  it  from 
such  intelligence  as  satisfied  him."  He  said  that  Ludlow  spoke  of  the  matter  in  a  con- 
fidential way  &  requested  them  not  to  mention  what  he  had  said ;  but  did  not  remember 
that  either  he  or  his  wife  promised  secrecy,  because  "  he  was  careful  not  to  make  unlawful 
promises  ;  but  when  he  did,  through  the  help  of  Christ,  he  was  careful  to  keep  it." 

Mrs.  Davenport  testified  that,  while  Ludlow  was  staying  at  her  house,  &  speaking  of 
the  execution  of  Knapp's  wife,  "  (he  being  free  in  his  speech)  "  to  the  best  of  her  remem- 
brance she  heard  him  say,  Knapp's  wife  came  clown  from  the  ladder,  &  told  him  that 
goodwife  Staples  was  a  witch  ;  &  that  she  overheard  him  tell  Mr.  Davenport  about  Mrs. 
Staples  saying,  if  Knapp's  wife  had  the  marks  of  a  witch,  she  also  had  them  ;  but  did  not 
remember  giving  a  promise  of  secrecy.  Mrs.  Thomas  Sherwood  of  Fairfield  testified, 
that  in  a  debate  between  Ludlow  £  Mrs.  Staples,  she  heard  Ludlow  charge  goodwife 
Staples  "  with  a  tract  of  lying  several  times."  The  wife  of  Nathan  Gold  testified,  that  in 
a  quarrel  in  the  church  between  Ludlow  £  Mrs.  Staples,  she  heard  the  latter  ask  Ludlow 
"  to  show  her  where  she  had  told  one  lie  ;  £  Mr.  Ludlow  said  she  need  not  mention  par- 
ticulars, for  she  had  gone  on  in  a  tract  of  lying." 

John  Thompson  of  Fairfield  testified  to  the  same  effect.  Ludlow's  counsel,  Ensign 
Bryan,  then  offered  several  testimonials  in  writing  upon  oath,  taken  by  Mr.  Wells  &  Lud- 


APPENDIX  325 

low.  John  Banks  objected  to  the  reading  of  the  testimonials,  as  some  of  them  were  in 
the  hand  writing  of  Ludlow,  which  he  did  not  consider  were  as  satisfactory  as  if  they  had 
been  taken  by  some  disinterested  person.  He  also  took  exception  to  them,  on  the  ground 
that  they  had  not  been  attested  by  some  public  officer.  The  affidavit  of  Hester,  wife  of 
Andrew  Ward,  taken  on  the  13.  of  May,  was  then  read,  which  was  to  the  effect,  that  she 
visited  goodwife  Knapp  in  prison  the  following  day  after  she  had  been  condemned  as  a 
witch;  at  which  time  she  of  her  own  freewill  informed  her,  that  goodwife  Staples  had  told 
her  about  an  Indian  woman,  who  had  brought  her  "  two  little  things  brighter  than  the 
light  of  day,"  which  she  pronounced  "  to  be  Indians  gods,  as  the  Indians  called  them,"  & 
if  she  would  keep  them,  "she  would  be  so  big  rich,  all  one  god."  Mrs.  Staples  told  her 
she  thought  she  returned  them  to  the  Indian  woman,  but  could  not  distinctly  remember 
whether  she  did  or  not. 

The  affidavit  of  Lucy,  wife  of  Thomas  Pell  of  Fairfield,  of  the  same  date,  was  next 
read.  Mrs.  Pell  testified  that  about  the  day  after  goodwife  Knapp  was  condemned,  the 
wife  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones  urged  her  to  go  with  her  to  the  prison  where  the  witch,  who 
had  sent  for  her,  was  confined  ;  that  she  with  Mrs.  Andrew  Ward  accompanied  Mrs. 
Jones  to  the  prison,  &  heard  the  witch  say  word  for  word  what  Mrs.  Ward  had  testi- 
fied. She  further  declared  that  she  was  one  of  the  women,  who  had  been  appointed  by 
the  court  to  search  the  said  Knapp  before  she  was  condemned  ;  &  that  both  she  £  Mrs. 
Jones  "  pressed  her,  the  said  Knap,  to  confess  whether  there  were  any  others  that  were 
witches,  because  goodwife  Basset,  when  she  was  condemned,  said  there  was  another 
witch  at  Fairfield  that  held  her  head  full  high,  &  then  she  said,  goodwife  Knap,  stepped  a 
little  aside,  &  told  her  that  goodwife  Basset  meant  not  her.  She  then  asked  her  whom 
she  meant.  &  she  named  goodwife  Staples  ;  &  then  she  uttered  the  same  speech  as  for- 
merly about  the  Indian  gods."  Elizabeth  &  Mary  Brewster's  £  Mrs.  Robert  Lockwood's 
affidavits  were  next  read,  all  corroborating  the  account  Ludlow  had  given  at  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Davenport's  house. 

Thomas  Shervington's,  Christopher  Comstock's,  &  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Baldwin's  affi- 
davits followed.  Each  testified,  that  upon  asking  goodwife  Knapp,  if  she  knew  of  any 
other  witch  in  the  town,  she  replied  "  there  were  some  or  one,  that  had  received  Indian 
gods  that  were  very  bright."  "The  said  Mrs.  Baldwin  asked  her,  how  she  could  tell  if 
she  were  not  a  witch  herself ;  &  she  said  they  partly  told  her  so,  &  her  husband  was 
witness  to  it,  &  to  this  they  all  swore."  The  affidavit  of  Rebecca,  wife  of  Cornelius  Hull 
and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  stated  "that,  when  goodwife  Knapp  was  going  to 
execution,  Mr.  Ludlow  &  her  father  Mr.  Jones  pressed  the  said  Knap  to  confess  that  she 
was  a  witch  ;  upon  which  goodwife  Staples  said,  why  should  she,  the  said  Knap,  confess 
that  she  was  not  &  after,  she,  the  said  goodwife  Staples  had  said  so,  one  that  stood  by 
said,  why  should  she  say  so  ?  &  then  Staples  replied  she  had  no  doubt  if  the  said  Knap 
were  one,  she  would  confess  it." 

Deborah  Lockwood,  who  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  testified  "  that  when 
goodwife  Knap  was  going  to  execution  between  Try's  field  &  the  mill,*  she  heard 
goodwife  Staples  say  to  goodwife  Gould,  she  was  persuaded  goodwife  Knap  was  no 
witch.  Goodwife  Gould  said,  sister  Staples,  she  is  a  witch,  &  hath  confessed  she  has 
had  familiarity  with  the  Deuill.  Mrs.  Staples  replied,  I  was  with  her  yesterday,  or  last 
night,  &  she  said  no  such  thing  as  she  heard." 

The  affidavit  of  Bethia  Brundish  taken  on  the  26.  of  April  stated,  that  while  goodwife 

*  Thomas  Morehouse's  Mill,  near  Black  Rock  bridge. 


326  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Knapp  was  on  the  way  to  execution,  with  Deborah  Lockwood  &  Sarah  Cable,  they  heard 
good  wife  Gould  reprove  Mrs.  Staples,  for  saying  she  did  not  think  goodwife  Knap  was  a 
witch.  This  testimony  was  witnessed  by  Andrew  Ward,  signed  as  follows  : 

Jurat  die  et  armor  pr  dicto, 
Coram  me, 

Ro.  Ludlowe — 

Goodwife  Whitlock  on  the  25.  of  May  testified,  that  while  she  with  several  other  women 
was  looking  for  the  mark  of  a  witch  upon  goodwife  Knapp  they  found  none  ;  but  upon 
some  slight  blemish  being  pointed  out,  goodwife  Staples  gave  in,  and  said  she  must  have 
been  a  witch. 

The  affidavits  of  Goodwife  Barlow,  Mrs.  Richard  Lyon,  Mrs.  George  Squire  &  Mrs. 
John  Thompson  corroborated  this  statement. 

Mrs.  Thomas  Sherwood  testified  before  the  Court,  that  upon  the  day  goodwife  Knapp 
was  condemned,  she  with  goodwife  Odell,  Mistress  Pell  &  her  two  daughters  Elizabeth  & 
Mary,  goody  Lockwood  &  goodwife  Purdy,  visited  her  in  prison,  &  urged  her  to  confess  if 
she  knew  of  any  other  witches  in  the  town.  She  also  met  there  on  the  following  day,  the 
Rev.  John  Jones,  Mistress  Pell  &  her  two  daughters,  and  others,  when  she  heard  Mistress 
Pell  advise  goodwife  Knapp  to  do  as  the  Stratford  witcli  did,  to  confess  if  she  knew  of 
any  other  witches  in  the  town,  &;  thus  receive  such  consolation  from  Mr.  Jones,  as  would 
be  for  her  soul's  welfare.  Goodwife  Knapp  replied,  "she  must  not  say  anything  which 
was  not  true,  she  must  not  wrong  anybody,  &  what  had  been  said  to  her  in  private, 
before  she  went  out  of  the  world,  when  she  was  upon  the  ladder  she  would  reveal  to  Mr. 
Ludlow  or  ye  minister.  Elizabeth  Brewster  said  if  you  keep  it  a  little  longer  till  you  come 
to  the  ladder,  the  Deuill  will  have  you  quick,  if  you  reveal  it  not  till  then.  Goodwife 
Knap  replied,  take  heed  the  devile  have  not  you,  for  she  could  not  tell  how  soon  she  might 
be  her  companion  ;  &  added,  the  truth  is,  you  would  have  me  say  that  goodwife  Staples  is 
a  witch  ;  but  I  have  said  enough  to  answer  for  already,  &  I  hope  I  shall  not  add  to  my 
condemnation,  &  I  know  nothing  by  goodwife  Staples,  &  I  hope  she  is  an  honest 
woman."  Goodwife  Lockwood  then  said  "Goodwife  Knap  what  ails  you;  goodman 
Lyon  pray  speak,  did  you  hear  us  name  goodwife  Staples'  name  since  we  came  here." 
Lyon  desired  her  to  be  careful  what  she  said,  &  not  make  disturbance  between  neighbors 
after  she  was  gone.  To  this  goodwife  Knapp  replied:  "goodman  Lyon  hold  your 
tongue,  you  know  not  what  I  know.  I  have  ground  for  what  I  say.  I  have  been  fished 
withal  in  private  more  than  you  are  aware  of.  I  apprehend  good  wife  Staples  hath  done 
me  some  wrong  in  her  testimony  .  .  .  but  I  must  not  render  evil  for  evil."  Goodwife  Sher- 
wood then  advised  Mrs.  Knapp  to  speak  to  the  jury,  for  she  had  not  heard  Mrs.  Staples 
witness  contrary  to  the  other  witnesses,  &  she  supposed  they  would  inform  her  that  the 
last  evidence  did  not  convict  her.  Goodwife  Knap  then  said,  she  had  been  told  so 
within  half  an  hour,  £  requested  all  to  leave  the  prison,  but  Mrs.  Sherwood  &  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Jones,  that  she  might  speak  with  them  in  private.  She  then  desired  Mrs.  Sherwood 
to  state  to  Mr.  Jones,  what  had  been  said  against  goodwife  Staples  the  day  before  ;  who 
replied  that  she  did  not  hear  goodwife  Staples  mentioned,  £  urged  her  to  open  her 
mind  fully  to  Mr.  Jones. 

Mrs.  Sherwood  further  testified,  "  that  upon  coming  into  the  house  where  the  witch 
was  kept,  she  found  only  the  wardsman  &  goodwife  Baldwin  there  ;  &  that  the  latter 
whispered  in  her  ear  &  said,  goodwife  Knapp  had  told  her :  "  that  a  woman  in  the  town  was 


APPENDIX  327 

a  witch,  &  would  be  hanged  within  twelve  months,  &  would  confess  herself  a  witch,  & 
clear  her  from  being  pronounced  a  witch  ;  &  that  she  asked  her  how  she  knew  she  was  a 
witch,  &  she  told  her  she  had  received  Indian  gods  of  an  Indian,  which  were  shining 
things,  which  shine  lighter  than  the  day."  Mrs.  Sherwood  then  asked  goodwife  Knapp  if 
she  had  said  so,  which  she  firmly  denied  ;  saying,  "  that  she  knew  no  woman  in  the  town 
that  was  a  witch,  nor  any  woman  that  had  received  Indian  gods,  but  she  said  there  was  an 
Indian  at  a  woman's  house,  who  had  offered  a  couple  of  shining  things,  but  the  woman 
never  told  her  she  took  them,  but  was  afraid  &  ran  away,  &  she  did  not  know  that  the 
woman  ever  took  them." 

Mrs.  Sherwood  went  out  to  speak  with  Thomas  Shervington  one  of  the  warclsmen, 
who  said  he  did  not  remember  that  Knapp  said  a  woman  in  the  town  was  a  witch  & 
would  be  hanged  ;  but  heard  her  speak  something  about  shining  things.  Kester,  Mr. 
PelPs  man,  who  stood  near,  said  :  "  I  remember,  as  they  were  going  to  the  grave,  good- 
wife  Staples  said,  it  was  long  before  she  could  believe  goodwife  Knap  a  witch,  or  that 
there  were  any  witches,  till  the  word  of  God  convinced  her,  which  saith,  thou  shalt  not 
suffer  a  witch  to  live." 

Thomas  &  Richard  Lyon  corroborated  the  statement  of  Mrs.  Pell,  her  daughter  & 
Mrs.  Ward  &  Mrs.  Lockwood. 

Mrs.  Nathan  Gold,  upon  oath  before  the  Court  testified,  that  at  the  time  she  accom- 
panied Mrs.  Sherwood  to  see  the  witch,  she  advised  her,  if  she  knew  anything  upon  good 
grounds  to  tell  it,  but  if  she  did  not  to  take  heed  that  the  Divel  did  not  persuade  her  to 
sow  malicious  seed  to  do  hurt  when  she  was  dead  ;  that  as  she  was  about  to  die  she 
should  speak  the  truth.  At  this  goodwife  Knapp  burst  into  tears  &  asked  Mrs.  Gold  to  pray 
for  her,  for  she  knew  not  how  she  was  tempted.  Mrs.  Gold  also  stated  that  while  on  the 
way  to  the  execution  with  Mrs.  Thomas  Bulkley,  Mrs.  Thomas  Sherwood  &  Mrs.  Staples, 
she  heard  Mrs.  Staples  say,  "  that  it  was  a  good  while  before  she  could  believe  Knap's 
wife  a  witch  ;  &  that  for  a  good  while  she  could  not  believe  there  were  any  witches,  &  it 
was  not  until  she  went  to  the  word  of  God  that  she  was  convinced." 

Ensign  Bryan  then  addressed  the  Court,  and  asked  time  to  prepare  and  answer  a 
charge,  which  he  had  not  heard  before.  The  plaintiff  &  defendant  were  then  allowed  to 
address  the  Court,  after  which  the  following  decision  was  rendered. 

The  court  having  considered  what  had  been  said  &  proved  on  both  sides,  though  not 
fully  satisfied  with  the  evidence  presented  by  Ensign  Bryan,  were  "  willing  to  receive 
the  testimony  given  on  the  other  side,  yet  they  could  not  justify  Mr.  Ludlow  in  defaming 
expressions  against  Mrs.  Staples,"  although  he  said,  "  he  considered  them  not  true.  .  . 
yet  they  tended  to  defamation ;  the  Court  in  their  sentence  shall  incline  to  more  favor  if 
Mr.  Ludlow  were  here  ;  but  the  third  part  of  the  charge  being  left  to  another  time."  .  . 
"  for  the  former  part  of  the  charge  they  see  no  cause  to  lay  the  blemish  of  a  witch  upon 
goodwife  Staples,  but  must  judge  that  Mr.  Ludlow  had  done  her  a  wrong;  &  therefore, 
ordered  that  he  should  pay  to  Thomas  Staples,  by  way  of  fine,  for  reparation  of  his 
wife's  name,  ten  pounds,  &  for  his  trouble  &  charge  in  following  the  suit  five  more." 

At  the  assembling  of  the  General  Court  of  New  Haven  on  the  18.  of  Oct.  following, 
Thomas  Staples  brought  forward  the  third  charge  against  Ludlow,  for  saying  that  Mrs. 
Staples  had  gone  on  in  a  tract  of  lying,"  which  had  been  formerly  proved  by  three  wit- 
nesses, whose  affidavits  were  again  read  before  the  Court.  Ensign  Bryan  declined  to  con- 
tinue the  case,  having  nothing  to  say  against  the  charge.  The  Court  then  decided,  "  that 
considering  the  nature  of  the  charge,  &  Mrs.  Staple's  relations  to  the  church  at  Fairfield, 


328  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

&  the  censure  such  a  course  if  proved  might  have  brought  upon  her,  by  way  of  sentence, 
ordered,  that  Mr.  Ludlow  pay  to  Thomas  Staples,  toward  repairing  his  wife's  name  so 
defamed,  with  trouble  &  charge  in  prosecuting,  the  sum  of  ten  pounds."* 

Thus  ended  this  absurd  trial,  which,  according  to  the  testimony  given,  shows  that 
Ludlow  was  made  to  suffer  for  the  sins  of  others,  as  well  as  for  his  own.  Thomas  Staples 
proved  himself  a  right  loyal  husband  in  taking  time  by  the  forelock,  &  putting  at  bay  any 
effort  to  prove  his  wife  a  witch.  The  decision  of  the  Court  produced  a  happy  result 
throughout  the  town  of  Fairfield  &  its  vicinity,  by  effectually  banishing  the  mania  of 
witchcraft  for  many  years. 

APPENDIX    No.  Ill 
"  A  list  of  ye  names  of  yc  freemen  of  towne  of  Fairefield.  Oct.    1669. 

Jno:Odell.  Tho:  Jones.  Joshua  Knowles.  Dan"  Frost. 

James  Bennett.  Mr.  Nathan  Gold.  John  Cable  Senr.  Joseph  Lockwood. 

Math  :  Sherwood.  Mr.  Willm  Hill.  Humphry  Hide.  John  Green  senr. 

Richd.  Hubball.  Willm  Ward.  Jno.   Hide.  Simon  Crouch. 

Jno.  Wheeler.  Natll  Burr.  Peter  Coley.  Sam"  Ward. 

Ezekiell  Sanford.  John  Buckley.  Jno  Knowles.  John  Barlow. 

Tho  :  Morehouse.  Mr.  Jehu  Burr.  Jno  Sturge.  Robert  Beacham. 

Sam11  Morehouse.  John  Banks.  Danii.  Lockwood.  Mr.  Wakeman. 

Nat"  Seely.  John  Palmer.  Jno  Cable  junr.  Henry  Jackson. 

Robt     Turney.  Cornelius  Hull.  Mr.  Dan"    Burr.  Henry  Rowland. 

Tho  :  Bennet.  Jno.  Burr.  Richd  Ogden.  Thomas  Staples. 

Oct.  10,  1669 

John  Sturgis,  select  man. 
Peter  Clapham,  select  man. 
John  Knowles,  select  man. 
William  Ward,  Nathaniell  Burr,  Constables." 
Col.  Rec.  Conn.  II.  521. 

No.  IV 
A  list  of  y-  lots  drawn  for  Sasqua  Land  in  ye  New  field   Feb.  8.  1668/65,. 

Jno.  Odell  .........................................  66  Hump  :  Hide  .....   ................................  29 

Is:   Wheek  .......................................  54  Petr.  Coly  .........................................  26 

Ja  :  Bennet  .......................................  47  Jno.  Hide  ..........................................  52 

Math  :  Sherwood  ............  .....................  62  Pr.  Clapham  ......................................  20 

Rid.Hubbell  ......................................  16  Jno.  Knowles  ...................................  61 

Jno.  Wheelr  ........................................  67  Mr.  Gold  ..........................................  56 

Rogr.   Knapp  ......................................  57  Willm.  Ward  .....................................  49 

Robt.  Turny  .......................................  17  Mr.  Pell  ...........................................  58 

Thos.  Benet  .................................  36  Nath".  Burr  .......................................  34 

2   *n 


Thos.  Jones  .....................................  31  c       „ 

Thos.  Wilson  ......................................  86  Sam11  __  ! 

Willm.  Hill  ........................................  53  Dan'l  Lockwood  ...................................  37 

Francis  Bradley  ...................................  50  W.  Wilson  .........................................  55 

Thos.  Sherwood  .................................  48  -     Bulkly  .....................................  51 

Mrs   Jones  .........................................  08  Jos.  Jennings  ......................................  45 

Ja  :   Gray  ..........................................  21  Thos.  Staples  ......................................  46 

Jehu  Burr  ..........................................  33  Rich.  Lyon  .........................................  43 

Jno.  Banks  .......................................  68  Thos.  Grumon  ....................................  44 

Obd.  Gilbert  .......................................  02  Robt.  Meacar  ...................................  18 

Stepn.  Hedge  ......................................  25  Jno.  Tompkins  ....................................  19 

Cor:  Hull  .........................................  69  Thos.  Lyon  ........................................  38 

Jno.  Burr  ..........................................  65  Jno.  Sturgis  ......................................  15 

Hen;  Rowland  ...................................  35  Jno.  Cable  jr  ......................................  63 

Benjn  Turny  ....................................  40  S.  Drake  ...........................................  30 

Jno.  Cable  sr  ......................................  28  G.  Smith  .........................................  42 

Richd.  Osburn  .............  .  ..............  t  .......  14  Jno.  Barlow  sr  .....................................  41 

Josiah  Knowles  ....................................  23  Jno.  Barlow  jr  .....................................  12 

J.  Sherwington  .................................  03  Samn.  Smith...   ...................................  u 

*  Col.  Rec.  New  Haven,  II.  77-89  &  122. 


APPENDIX 


329 


Rpbt.  Rumsie 24      Jos :  Lockwood 59 

Richd.  Ogden 10      P.  Norton 39 


Danll  Frost 01  Mr.  Wakeman 

Robt  Beachem 07  Sam'1  Wilson 

Couch  &  Andrus 22  OanH  Burr 

Jno.  Green 64 


Samli  Tredwell 04 

B.  Town  Votes  p.  15. 
No.  V 

Names  of  persons  who  shared   in  the  second  division  of  the  Sasqua  Lands  Jan  30. 
1668/69. 

Jn°.  Odell 35      J.  Green  s' 57 

Isaac  WheeU 36      Jos.  Lockwood 15 

Tas.  Bennet 69      P.Norton 13 

Math.  Sherwood 64      Thos.  Bennet 26 

Ricd.  Hubb'i 23      Ja:  Beers 13 

Jno.  Wheelr 16      Jos:  Middlebrook 20 

Rog  :  Knap 4      Thos.  Jones 67 

ROD:  Turny ig      Thos.  Wilson n 

Mr.  Pell 08      Willm.  Hill 

Nathii  Burr 45      Mr.  Gold 21 

And.  Ward 18      Mr.  Ward 24 

Danll  Lockwood 56      B.  Turny 30 

W.Wilson 51      Jno.CableSr ' 61 

Samll  Tred  well 50      Mr.  Wakeman 50 

Jno  Buckley 48      Sarah  Wilson 130 

Jos:  Jennings 02      Richd.  Osburn 31 

Thos.  Staples 14      Josh*.  Knowles 28 

Ric:  Lyon 09       Thos.  Shervington 44 

Jno.  Grumon.. 03      Hump.  Hide 05 

Rob:  Meacar 01      Peter  Coly 06 

J.  Tompkins 49      Jno.  Hide 07 

Francis  Bradley 58      Peter  Clapham 62 

Thos.  Sherwood 46      Jo.  Knowles 66 

Mrs.  Jones 22      Thos.  Lyon 33 

Ja.  Gray  52      Jno.  Sturgis -. 38 

Jehu  Burr 59      Jno.  Cable  jr 60 

J.  Banks 43      Samll.  Drake 17 

O.Gilbert 54      G.  Smith 27 

S.  Hedge 25      J:  Barlow  sr 10 

C.  Hull 47      J:  Barlow  jr 42 

Jno.  Burr 35      Samll  Smith 63 

H.  Rowland • 53      Rob.  Rumsie 40 

R  :  Beachamp 41      R :  Ogden 39 

Jno.  Andrews 29      D  :  Frost 37 

B.  Town  Votes  p.  31. 
No.   VI 

The  names  of  those  y'.  Removed  ye  building  Lots   attye  Rear  of  ye  Lots,  into  ye  half- 
mile  Comon,  according  to  ye  order  ye  last  meeting.  Jan.  17.  1671/2 


Michael  Try 
Ezek.  Sandford 
Rog:  Knap 
Dan11.  Silleiman 
Thos.  Skidmore 
Jos :  Jennings 
Rich;  Osborn 
Ja:  Beers 
Rich :  Lyons 

Jn».  "Aplegate 
no.  Cable  jr. 


Sergt.  Sely 
old  Odell 
Sam".  Morehouse 
Ens:  Turny 
Ste:  Hedge 
Hen:  Rowland 
Jn".  Grummon. 
Robt.  Meacar 
Jos:  Wakeman 
Jno.  Burr 
Jno.  Cable  sr 


Peter  Coly 
Jno.  Barlow  jr 
Jos  Patchin 
Tho:  Shervington 
Hen;  Jackson 
Hump:  Hide 
Sam1'.  Drake 
N.  Perry 
S.  Smith 
Jno.  Sturgis 
Sarah  Wilson 


Benjn.  Turny 
Mr.  Harvy 
Thos.   Staples 
Cor:  Hull 

!)s.  Knowles 
10.  Hide 
1°.  Barlow  sr 
.  Lyon 
El.  Smith 
Jno.  Knowles 
Ed;  Adams 


Feb.  28.  i67i/72 


No.  VII 
List  for  Compo  Dividend. 


B.  Town  Votes  p.  44. 


Feb.  28.  1671/3 


W.  Wheeier 83  Is.  Wheeler  68 

F.  Hall's  farm 2  Jas.  Bennet 101 

}os.  Whelpley 58  M.Sherwood 97 

no.  Odell 60  R.  Hubbell 50 

Samuel  Treadwell 6  H.Jackson 20 


33O  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

W.  Fry 95      F.Bradley  45 

E.  Sandford 10      T.  Sherwood 78 

T.  Morehouse 42      H.  Hide 56 

D.  Silliman... 102       Jno.  Hide 65 

T.Oliver 61       P.  Coley    72 

P.  Clapha 

Jno. 

Sam.  Morehouse 85      Jno.  Sturges 92 


.  ......................    ...................  .  ....................................... 

Sergt.  Sely  .......................................     31      P.  Clapham  ........................................     67 

O.  Odell  ...........   ............................      44      Jno.  Kno 


44      Jno.  Knowles    ...................................     64 


T.  Turnie 74      Jno.  Cable  Junr 07 

T.  Bennet 98       Danll.  Lockwood 73 

Jn".  Thompson 23       Ja.  Beers 08 

Geo.  Squire 36       Sam.  Smith 04 

Jo.  Middlebrook 82      Jno.  Barlow  Snr 51 

T.Jones 13      Jno.  Barlow  Jnr 49 

W.  Hill 89       S.  Smith 04 

Mr.  Gold 34      T.  Shervington 21 

Sarah  Wilson 57       R.  Rumsie 84 

Beni.  Turney 33       Jno.  Tompkins 19 

N.  Burr 87       S.  Ward 93 

W.  Ward 16       Josh.  Lockwood 69 

Dnl.  Burr 24       Sm11.  Couch   47 

Mos.  Ditnon 14       D.Frost 100 

T.Wilson 26      Jno.  Andrews 43 

H.  Sherwood 48      Jno.  Green  53 

Mr.  Harvey 22       R.  Beacham 59 

W.  Wilson 77       Jno.  Wheeler 54 

Jno.  BuHdey 63       Hendrick 70 

T.  Staples 37      R.  Lyon 39 

Ed.  Adams 75       Mr.  Wakeman 17 

Jno.  Grumon 86      G.  Squire  Jnr 38 

R.  Meacre 71       Parsonage 25 

Jas.  Gray    05      School 28 

Mr.  Jehu  Burr 32      Samuel  Drake 79 

Mr.  Jones 81       D.  Finch 01 

John  Banks 62       Ths.  Sherwood 99 

Jos.  Wakeman 46       Sam'l.  Goodwin 30 

T.  Skidmore 55       P.  Barlow 66 

S.  Hedge 29       N.  Perry 35 

Cor.  Hull 91       Mr.  Thomas  Pell 12 

Jno.  Burr 03      Jno.  Applegate 90 

O.Gilbert 09      Jno.  Bennet 41 

Jo.  Jennings 96      T.  Lyon 15 

Hen.  Rowland 80       R.  Ogden 52 

Jos  Knowles 18       Patchin 76 

Jno.  Cable  Sr 94      Jno.  Smith 27 

R.  Osborn 40 

B.  Town  Votes  p.  47. 

No.  VIII 
GENERAL  INDIAN  DEED 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  yt  whereas  ye  town  of  Fairfield  hath  formerly  bought 
of  ye  true  Indian  proprietors  all  ye  lands  contained  within  their  township  bounds,  which 
is  seven  miles  broad  upon  ye  sea  coast,  £  from  ye  sea  at  least  twelve  miles  into  ye  coun- 
try to  ye  northward  of  their  bounds,  bounds  on  ye  East  with  ye  sd  town  bounds  as  ye 
Court  hath  setlled,  on  ye  west  with  town  bounds  of  Norwalke,  also  Compaw-neck  from 
ye  old  road  to  Norwalke  to  Sagatuck  River  on  ye  west,  to  ye  sea  on  ye  south,  for  which 
lands  ye  Indian  proprietors  have  given  ye  sd  .  town  severall  bills  of  sale,  viz  :  one  bill 
bearing  date  ye  20*  March  1656;  and  bill  dated  2ist  March  i6$<l  ;  ye  3d  bill  bearing  date 
ye  19.  Janry  1670,  by  all  which  bills  of  sale  ye  above  sd.  lands  are  made  over  to  ye  sd 
Towne  :  yet  for  ye  maintenance  of  Love  &  peace  between  ye  sd  town  &  ye  sd  Indians 
yt  wee  may  prevent  trouble,  yt  neither  we  nor  or  heirs  nor  successours  shall  make  any 
further  claims  to  any  lands  within  ye  sd  Bounds,  but  only  what  is  sequestred  for  us:  We 
ye  surviveing  Indian  Inhabitants  of  Poquonuck,  Unceway,  Sasqua  &  Aspetuck  doe  Cove- 
nant &  agree  as  followeth  :  Imprimis,  we  doe  owne  £  acknowledge  all  these  bills  of 
sale,  Dated  as  above,  sd  to  be  just  £  good,  £  ye  lands  contained  therein  to  bee  truely  bought 
be  ye  Sd .  Towne  of  ye  lawful  proprietors;  &  therefore  doe  for  ourselves,  our  heirs  £  sue- 


APPENDIX  331 

cessors,  confirm  all  ye  sd.  lands  within  ye  s,i .  bounds,  unto  ye  sd  towne  of  Fairfield  & 
their  heirs,  successours,  assignes  (&  whatsoever  of  Aspatuck  lands  is  within  ye  sd  boun- 
daryes  was  sold  in  ye  sd  Bills  of  sale),  both  meadowes,  uplands,  Creekes,  Coves,  harbours, 
Rivers,  ponds,  with  all  ye  privileges  &  appurtenances  thereunto,  belonging  or  in  any 
wayes  appertaining  :  also  whereas  there  is  some  of  ye  Poquanocke  Lands  yt  falls  within 
ye  sd  Fairfield's  bounds  as  above  sd :  now  know  ye,  yt  wee  ye  sd  Indians,  &  for  a  valuable 
consideration  to  us  already  paid,  doe  alienate,  assign  &  set  over  from  us  &  from  our 
heires  for-ever  all  or  Interest,  right  &  propriety  in  ye  sd  lands  &  in  every  part  and  parcel 
thereof,  with  all  ye  privileges  £  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  to  ye  sd  Towne, 
their  heires,  successours  &  assigns  for-ever  to  enjoy  &  posesse  it  as  their  owne  free  lands, 
without  any  let  or  molestation  from  us,  our  heirs  &  successours:  We  also  affirm  yt  wee 
have  full  knowledge  how  ye  bounds  between  sd  Fairfield  &  Stratford  runs,  as  by  a  Com- 
mittee of  ye  sd  towne,  they  have  fully  showed  us,  &  wee  have  marked  it  jointly  with  them, 
as  also  ye  northwest  Bounds  :  Only  it  is  to  bee  noted  yt  ye  lands  yt  are  provided  for 
Sasquau  Indians,  &  ye  lands  at  ye  Wolfepit-plaine,  yt  ye  Courte  Granted  us,  &  at  ye  old 
field  provided  for  us,  Poquanock,  Vunkewa  &  Aspetuck  Indians,  for  our  own  use  to  plant 
on,  shall  remain  for-ever  for  ye  sd  Respective  Indians  to  plant  on  both  for  themselves, 
their  heires  &  successours  for-ever:  It  is  also  to  be  noted  yt  ye  old  Indian  feild  partaining 
to  ye  Indians,  as  above  sd,  included  noe  Medow  nor  English  allotments,  but  only  ye 
planting  land  that  they  have  long  possessed,  &  by  a  Committee  of  us,  ye  Indians  £  ye  sd 
English,  is  now  run  setled  £  staked  down*:  also  wee,  ye  subscribers  hereunto,  doe  owne 
&  acknowledge  yt  ye  sd.  Towne  of  Fairfield,  hath  already  paid  to  us  £  to  ye  Indians  they 
formerly  bought  land  off,  as  above  sd,  what  they  were  engaged  to  pay,  £  therefore  doe 
for  or  selves  our  heirs  £  successors  for-ever,  acquitt  exonerate  &  discharge  ye  sd  Towne 
of  Fairfield  &  their  successours  from  any  further  demands  to  anything  due,  upon  con- 
sideration of  ye  sales  above  sd,  Due  payment  haveing  beene  already  made  by  ye  sd.  Towne 
of  Fairfield  :  Also  whereas  there  is  land  at  ye  Wolfepit  plaine,  £  at  Sasqua,  £  ye  above 
sd  Land  at  ye  old  feild,  sequestered  for  ye  use  of  us,  our  heirs  £  successours  only  to  plant 
on,  wee  doe  by  these  presents  for  ourselves,  our  heirs,  &  successors,  acquitt,  exhonorate 
&  Discharge  ye  sd  Towne  of  Fairfield,  their  heirs,  £  successours  from  any  further  demands 
to  any  lands  within  their  above  sd  bounds,  but  ye  use  of  yt  wch  as  above,  is  sequestered 
for  us  :  Also  wee  acknowledge  yt  wee  are  to  allow  a  sufficient  highway  for  carting  out  of  ye 
above  sd  lands  of  ye  old  field,  for  free  egresse  &  regresse  for  ye  Inhabitants  of  Fairfield,  to 
make  use  of  to  come  at  their  medows,  as  by  a  Committee  appointed  by  ye  English  is 
already  staked  &  bounded  out,  &  wee  doe  hereby  bind  ourselves  our  heirs  £  successors 
to  free  &  Exhonorate  ye  sd  parcell  of  Lands,  Comprehended  within  ye  bounds  above 
Expressed,  bought  by  ye  sd  Towne  of  Fairfield  of  us,  ye  afore  sd  Indians,  from  all  former 
Sales,  bargains,  Claimes  Mortgages  or  Incumbrances  whatsoever  yt  have  been  since  ye 
beginning  of  ye  world  till  this  Day:  reserving  to  ourselves  Liberty  of  hunting  &  getting 
firewood  in  any  part  of  ye  sd  Towne  bounds  being  un fenced  :  &  ye  liberty  of  fishing  £ 
fowling  in  any  Rivers  or  Streames  within  ye  sd  Towne  bounds  :  And  wee  also  grant  ye 
sd  Inhabitants  of  Fairfield  liberty  to  pasture  upon  our  Lands,  sequestered  as  above  sd.  for 
our  use,  soe  soone  as  our  crop  is  off,  £  this  to  continue  for-ever  :  As  witnesse  our  hand 
this  6th  Day  of  October  1680  : 

Old  Anthoney  his  X  his  mk  Yeernsqua  X  her  mark 

Nimrod  X  his  mk  Washagunassuk  X  his  mk. 

Wagregunnasque  X  her  mk  Keewop  X  his  mk 


332  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Crocreco  X  bis  mk  Nausouate  X  his  mk 

Wesquambe  X  his  tnfc  Sasqua  Tames  X  his  mk 

Poneni  X  his  mk  Xeesenpaus  X  his  mk 

Youyoewhy  X  his  mk  Crecono  X  his  ink 

Patckcock  X  his  mk  Norwake  James  X  his  mk 

Sasapequna  X  his  mk  Capt-  Wittere  X  his  mk 

Aqucnke  X  his  mk  Hetorow  X  his  mk 

Panumscutt  X  his  mk  Nascroe  X  his  mk 

Ptrpurah  X  his  ink  Quatiant  X  his  mk 

Mamarushocke  X  his  ink  Saicus  X  his  mk 

Signed  &  Delivered  m  presence  of  us  Witnesses  &  Interpreters,  John  Minor.  John  Sherwood. 
Acknowledged  a:  ye  same  time  of  ye  sd  subscription  &  delivered  before  John  Minor =     Comissr. 
Wee  Hassahan.  Mittacke.  Waitonowcanks.  Indians,  haveing  full  information  of  ye  contents  of  ye  with  in 
Instrument  doe  fully  subscribe,  in  witness  of  full  consent  thereto,  both  for  oJselves,  heires  &.  successours.  as  wit- 
nesse  or  hands  ye  date  above  said. 

Witnesses  Ifa psha  m  X  mark. 

Nathaniel  Bur.  Wattonowcanks  X  roark 

John  Maa^aeld.  Mittacke  X  mark 

Womsoncous  X  mark 
Chickine  X  mark 
Wampam  X  mark. 
Warenot   X  mark. 
Choromoke  X  mark. 
Ye  deed  is  a  true  copy  according  to  ye  original  I.  compared  &  recorded  this  :f,  Janary  16:3  by  mee 

Nathan  Gold.  Recorder.* 
B.  Town  Votes— P.  668-670. 

Xo.  IX 
DEED  OF  THE  OLD  INDIAN  FIELD 

To  ail  people  to  whom  these  presents  sha.I  come  greeting  :  Whereas  there  have  been 
several!  bills  of  sale  by  ye  Indian  proprietors  unto  ye  town  of  Fairfield,  of  ail  ye  lands  they 
possesse  within  their  township  bounds,  except  those  particular  lands  hereafter  mentioned 
sequestered  for  or  use.  «S:  by  GenrU  bill  of  sale,  bearing  date  ye  6-  day  ol  October  last 
past  may  more  fully  appeare :  And  whereas  there  is  in  ye  sd  gen11  bill  of  sale  an  acknowledge- 
ment of  ye  old  Indian  field,  in  ye  east  side  of  Ur.ceway  River  is  under  sequestration  or  kept 
for  us  to  plant,  which  accordingly  they  hitherto  have  dor.e,  wee,  ye  proprietors  of  ye 
sd  old  neld.  upon  good  reasons,  best  known  to  ^selves,  are  resolved  to  sell  ye  sd  field,  & 
therefore  wee  made  proffer  of  ye  sale  thereof  to  ve  towne  of  Fairfield.  Whereupon  ye  sd- 
town  appointing  a  committee  to  treate  with  us,  manifested  their  desire  yt  wee  ye  Indians 
should  keep  it  for  of  use  to  plant  on  according  as  was  formerly  concluded,  but  nothstanding 
wee  ir.portuned  their  bying  of  it  from  such  reasons  as  are  with  us  :  And  after  severall 
treatves  with  ye  s;l.  Fairfield  Committee  endeavoring  to  accomplish  a  sale  thereof,  at  length 
we  came  to  an  agreement  about  it,  £  have  sold. 

Xow  know  yt  wee  ye  true  proprietors  of  ye  sd  Indian  old  field,  above  mentioned, 
Iving  within  ve  common  line  of  their  genr:i  field  fence  in  ye  east  side  of  Unceway  river, 
which  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  with  ye  proprieties  of  severall  of  ye  s-  towns  inhabitants, 
&  ye  propriety  of  ye  to%vn  their  lands  next  ajoining  thereto  :  wee  say  we  have  sold, 
alienated,  assigned  S:  set  over  S:  do  by  these  presents  sell,  alienate  and  set  over  from  us 
our  heirs,  successours  &  assigns  all  ye  s-  tract  or  neck  of  land,  called  our  old  field 
afore  mentioned,  &  ever/  part  and  parcel!  thereof  yt  doth  lye  to  us  in  ye  neck,  wit:; 

•Also  Probate  Records.  Vo'..  rtSv-iToi,  pp.  €-i;. 


APPENDIX  333 

all  ye  privileges  &  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  or  in  anyways  appertaining  unto 
ye  sd  towne  of  Fail-field,  their  heirs,  successours  &  assigns,  to  enjoy  &  possess  it  as  their 
own  free  lands,  from  ye  day  of  ye  date  hereof  forever.  This  sale  we  have  made  of  ye 
premises  for  a  valuable  consideration  yt  ye  3d-  towne  hath  secured  to  us,  &  wee  doe 
affirm  yt  we  ye  subscribers  hereto  are  ye  true  proprietors,  &  have  lawful  right  to  sell  ye 
premises  :  &  wee  doe  free  &  exhonorate  ye  sd  parcell  of  land,  &  ever)-  part  &:  parcell 
thereof  from  all  former  sales,  bargains  &  encumbrances  whatever,  &  now  they  may  record 
it  to  their  use  &  propriety. 

In  witness  whereof  we,  ye  sd  Indian  Proprietors,  have  hereunto  set  to  our  hands  this 
18.  May  1681.  Also  ye  sd  Indian  proprietors  hereto  subscribing,  doe  reserve  liberty  of  a 
convenient  footpath  yt  ye  English  shall  settle,  for  free  egress  and  regress  to  come  at 
their  fishing  in  any  of  ye  creeks,  both  for  themselves  and  successors. 

Mamerushee  mk  Umperenosset's  son 

Ponees  X  marke 

Old  Anthoye's  X  marke 

Washaganesser  X  marke 

Wissawahem  X  squa  her  mk. 

Robins  X  marke 

Aquanck  X  marke 

Cope  X  his  marke 

Sowwahose  X  squa  mk 

Nanshucas  X  squa  mk 

Xassons  X  young  Anthony's  son 

Chororomokes  X  his  mark 

Signed  &;  delivered  in  presence  witnesses  of  us, 

John  Mansfield 

Thomas  T  \V  William's  mk. 
Indian  witnesses 

Sasqua  James  X  his  mark. 

Crocrecoe  X  his  mark. 

Roroeway  X  his  mark. 

Runshsqua  X  mark. 

Pascoe  X  mark. 

These  Indians  witnesses  hath  signed  as  witnesses.  &  consent  to  ye  sale  of  ye 
premises. 

Trustee,  an  Indian  which  speaks  very  good  English,  was  improved  an  interpreter 
between  ye  above  said  towne  &  ye  Indians  by  both  partyes  consent,  in  ye  presence  of 
these  English  witnesses,  ye  Indians  siging  of  ye  above  instrument  in  his  presence,  as  their 
act,  as  witness  his  hand 

Trustee's  X  marke. 

This  deed,  is  a  true  copy  of  ye  original!  compare.;  &  recorded.  This  25  January 
1685  by  me, 

NATHAN  GOLD 

Recorder. 
A.  Town  Deeds,  pp.  660,  667. 


334 


HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 


No.   X 

A  List  of  ye  Inhabitants  proportions  of  Lands  in  ye  Cofnons  granted  to  ye  Inhabitants 
in  ye  year  1670/71  £  is  now  Recorded  December  1681.* 


Est 
234 
217 
81 
143 
106 
r95 
M3 
157 
298 
291 
198 
131 
1  80 
116 
103 

93 
262 
in 
251 
187 
141 
62 
263 

233 

243 
265 
285 

254 
290 
179 
138 
=54 
196 

2IO 

T75 

129 
188 
185 
170 
238 
154 
M7 
'94 
80 
40 
138 

I2O 

122 

91 
141 

171 

ites 

Acres 

Est 

'39 
229 

87 
213 

460 

ates 
:  10  Samll  Ward  

Acres 
452 

:    8  Richd.  Ogden. 

:  17  Thos  Jones  

286 

16  Jno   Odcll 

:  —  Willm  Hill  

694 

2  Samll  Treadwell   

241; 

:    4  Major  Nathan  Gold  

1500 

635 

172 
So 
192 
198 
98 
90 

:  —  Sarah  Wilson  

;    4  Benjan  Turny  

260 

412 

:  16  Nathll  Burr  

626 

16  Rich    Hubell 

:    2  Willm  Ward 

644 

:  12  Danll  Burr  

.  .  .  .         .     321 

18  Michael  Fry 

647 

:  —  Moses  Dimon  

292 

428 

:  10  Thos  Wilson  . 

.     .       486 

J37 
143 

:  —  Stephen  Sherwood 

.    .'....      445 

412 

:    6  Mr.  Harvey  

466 

H7 
77 

7  Widow  Bulkley. 

6  Tno  Bulkly...   .           

249 

—  Thos.  Staples  

1128 

8  Willm  Odell  Senr.              

220 

:    4  Edward  Adams  

715 

816 

190 

"9 

56 

:  16  Jno  Grumon          .           

608 

:  —  Robt  Mecar  

.      387 

4  Thos   Bennet 

:  14  Mrs.  Jones 

l84 

;  14  Jacob  Gray..         ..             ... 

855 

250 

2J4 

88 
T33 
93 
181 

:  —  .  Mr.  Jehu  Burr  

812 

—  Jos:  Middlebrook  Senr..         .... 

757 

:  12  Jno.  Banks  

4  Cor    Hull 

:    4  Ezburn  Wakeman.          .       ... 

.   .             287 

863 

:    8  Thorns.  Skidmore  

12  Obedh  Gilbert       ... 

603 

16  Stephen   Hedge  

—  •  Joshua  Jennings  

825 

4  Jos.  Lockwood  

68  1 

239 
207 
179 
308 
nfin 

•  10  Danll  Frost                         

—  Jas  Knowles 

.    .       582 

:    8  Tno  Green  

675 

q8i 

—  Rich.  Osburn  

825 

:  18  Jno  Wheeler  

18  Frances  Bradley  

630 

:  —  •  Henrick  

203 

—  Thos    Sherwood.... 

.    .     682 

247 
206 
40 

:  —  Richd  Lyon  

800 

4  Hum  :  Hide  

....     569 

:    5  Mr.  Wakeman  .'  

4   [no  Hide 

398 

:  10  George  Squire.   . 

1  8  Peter  Colee 

387 

:  —  Parsonage  

o  Peter  Clapham.. 

604 

IOO 

79 
3° 

:  —  School  

4  Jos.  Knowles.. 

:  —  Nathll  Finch.  .     .               

—  -  Tno  Sturgis.. 

:  —  Isaac  Sherwood                       

10  Danll  Lockwood. 

58 
90 

$ 

78 
93 
178 

:  _  Nathll  Perry 

10  James  Beers 

645 

:  _  Mr.  Pell.                           ..     . 

—  •  Samll  Drake       .    .  .         

:  —  Jno  Bennet  

—  Jno.  Applegate  

132 

:  —  Thos  Lyon  

12  Samll  Smith.. 

:  —  Jno  Smith 

10  John  Barlow  Senr  
12   John  Barlow  Junr. 

391 

398 

:  —  Thos  Shervington  

305 
c78 

10  Eleazer  Smith  

298 

:  —  Jno.  Andrews 

572 

—  Robt.  Rumsie  

458 

60 
37 

:  —  Patch  in  

16  Jno  Tomkins  

233 

:  —  Samll  Goodwin  

121 

R.  Fairfield  Town  Votes,  p.  66. 

*  The  order  of  names  in  this  list  is,  perhaps,  more  correct  than  in  any  other  of  the  lists  of  dividend  holders 
in  the  various  divisions  of  lands.  From  the  Widow  Wheeler's  long  lot  at  Pequonnock  to  Joseph  Middlebrook's,  & 
in  fact,  the  names  of  most  of  the  owners  of  the  long  lots  of  the  East  farmers  as  far  west  as  the  Mile  of  Common, 
appear  to  be  perfectly  correct  in  their  order  of  ownership.  The  addition  of  new  dividend  holders,  &  of  the 
names  of  persons  who  lived  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  main  streets  of  the  town,  appear  to  have  created  no  little 
confusion,  in  giving  the  exact  order  of  the  names  of  the  dividend  holders  west  of  the  Mile  of  Common,  as  far 
more  received  dividends  in  the  two  &  a  half  miles  on  the  west  side,  than  those  who  shared  the  dividends  of  the 
one  and  a  half  mile  on  the  east  side.  The  frequent  exchange  &  sale  of  some  of  these  lots,  no  doubt,  was  the 
cause  of  the  irregularity  in  the  order  of  names  of  the  holders  of  the  lots  west  of  the  Mile  of  Common.  It  must 
always  be  remembered  that  Simon  Couch  owned  the  last  long-  lots  next  to  the  Norwalk  boundary  line.  Joseph 
Patchin  did  not  remain  long  at  Green's  Farms,  &  both  his  long  lot  &  that  of  Samuel  Goodwin's  lay  among  those 
east  of  Couch's  &  Andrews'.  But  the  order  of  ownership  in  this  list  is  very  nearly  correct.  The  highways  were 
laid  out,  &  afterwards  renewed  at  a  much  later  date,  which  will  be  shown  hereafter.  It  will  be  well  to  remember 
also,  that  the  building-lots  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  old  home-lots  of  the  first  settlers.— AUTHOR. 


APPENDIX 
No.  XI 


335 


Here  followeth  a  list  of  ye  building  lots  pasture  lots,  &  long-lots  granted  to  ye  inhab- 
itants of  ye  town  Jan.  1670-71  &  recored  Dec.  30.  1681. 


BUILDING 

LOTS. 

PASTURES. 

LONG  LOTS  YE  BREADTH 

Acres. 

Q- 

Rods. 

Acres. 

Q.    Rods. 

Rods. 

Q. 

Feet. 

Widow  Wheeler 

'7 

16 
6 

10 

07 
H 

IO 

II 

22 
21 

14 

o9 
13 
08 
07 
06 
'9 
08 
18 
J4 

IO 

04 
'9 
'7 
06 
16 
34 

12 
06 
'4 

J4 
06 
08 

10 
IO 

II 

°5 
26 
16 
'4 

08 

°4 

oS 
18 
18 
08 

10 

°7 
18 

'9 
'3 

J9 

21 

J3 

10 

'9 
M 

'5 
'3 
09 
08 
'3 
'7 
ii 
ii 
'4 

10 

2 
I 
O 

3 
3 

a 
a 

3 

i 

3 
3 
3 

a 
a 

a 

3 

2 

I 

3 
o 

a 
a 

2 

I 
2 
O 

a 

3 

o 

3 
3 

2 

I 

3 
o 

3 
o 

a 
i 
3 

2 

3 

i 
i 

o 

i 
3 
3 
o 

3 

OI 
OI 

i  O 

03 

03 

oo 

oa 

°3 
03 
03 

oa 
on 
oa 

OI 

«4 

ii 

12 
09 
22 
22 

37 
12 
26 

'4 
26 

'9 

00 

31 
36 

3fi 
26 

19 

3 
14 

3i 
36 
36 
13 
09 
02 

24 
02 

3i 
18 
oo 
28 
06 
oo 

08 

03 
04 

02 
09 
O2 
03 
OO 

oo 
oo 
oo 

00 

oo 

01 

03 

°3 

03 

oo 

28 

16 
08 
03 

00 

24 

3° 
27 

26 
16 
08 

10 

14 

25 

M 
n 
04 
08 
06 
ii 
08 
09 
17 
'7 
ii 

IO 

07 
°S 
°5 
15 
06 
'5 
ii 
08 
°3 
'5 
H 
°5 

12 
27 
IO 
04 
II 
II 

5 
of 
08 
08 
08 
04 

20 

J3 
ii 

°7 
°3 

c6 

'5 
'4 
°5 
08 
°5 
M 
15 
ii 
15 
17 

10 

8 

15 
ii 

12 

IO 

°7 
II 
10 

14 

09 
08 

II 

08 

oo 

00 

03 

02 
01 
O2 
O2 
OI 
01 
OI 
03 

°3 

03 

oo 

01 
OI 
02 
02 

4 

00 
OI 
02 
02 
OO 
01 

°3 
02 

OI 

°3 

02 
°3 
01 

OO 

02 

03 

02 

03 

oo 

OI 

oo 

OI 

03 

oo 

02 

02 

12 
02 

°3 
OO 

oo 
oo 

3 

i 
o 
3 

2 
2 
O 
O 

I 
O 

3 

2 
I 

6 
06 
'7 

20 

H 

13 

34 
34 
34 
3° 

22 
08 
01 
M 

S2 

11 
ii 
37 

35 

11 
08 
02 
ii 
16 
ii 

10 

ii 

23 

24 

28 

37 
15 
M 

22 
II 
04 

32 

22 

24 
II 
00 
28 
08 
00 
22 
19 
24 
21 
38 

34 

00 

°5 
38 

IO 

06 

oo 

24 

15 

34 
15 

38 
18 
27 
oo 

27 
25 
°9 
16 

12 
22 

16 
18 
34 
33 
23 
15 
20 
13 
ii 

IO 

30 

12 
29 
21 

'5 

07 
30 
27 

7° 
25 
53 
'9 
°9 

22 

23 
IO 

13 

'4 
16 

'7 
09 
40 
25 

21 

13 
06 

13 
29 
28 
II 

'5 

IO 
28 

3° 

21 
29 

33 

20 

'5 

29 

22 

24 
2O 

13 

22 

'9 

27 

18 
'7 

22 
16 

oo 

00 

oo 
02 
oo 
oo 

02 
OI 

oo 

00 

oo 
oo 

°3 
02 

03 

02 

OI 

oo 
oo 

00 

02 
oo 

OI 

oo 
oo 

00 
OI 
02 

oo 

OI 
00 
OI 

02 

03 

02 
oo 
oo 
oo 

00 

03 
03 

oo 

00 

oo 

01 

oo 
02 

00 

oo 
o-j 
02 

06 

00 

3 

2 

I 
o 

I 
3 

2 
2 

2 

o 

2 
2 

o 

2 

6 

2 

4 

IO 

oo 

00 

oo 

oo 

°3 
°3 
oo 

01 

02 

OI 

17 

07 

07 

02 
02 

OI 
00 

oo 
00 
oo 

03 
04 

OI 
OO 

03 

oo 
02 
02 

IO 
02 

oo 
oo 

03 

oo 

°5 
oo 
oo 

00 

03 

CO 

oo 
oo 
oo 
oo 

04 

oo 

00 

oo 

00 

06 

00 

oo 

00 

02 
03 
02 
oo 

°3 
oo 
OI 

Goodman  Hall's  farm  

Joseph  Whelpley 

John  Odell  

Sam'll  Tread  well  

Isaac  Wheeler  

James  Bennet  

Mathew  Sherwood  .  . 

Richard  Hubbell  ... 

Henry  Jackson  

Michael  Fry..         

Ezekiel  Sandford   .                    .  .         

Roger  Knap  

Thomas  Morehouse  

Daniel  Sill  iman  

Thomas  Oliver 

Nathaniel  Seely  Sen  .  . 

William  Odell  Sen 

Samuel  Morehouse  

Ensign  Robt.  Turney  

Tho.  Bennet  

Tohn  Thompson  

Serj.  George  Squire.                     .              ... 

Joseph  Middlebrook,  Sen                

William  Hill  

Mr.  Nathan  Gold  

Sarah  Wilson  

Benjamin  Turney  

Nathaniel  Burr  

William  Ward  

Moses  Dimon  

Thomas  Wilson  

Stephen  Sherwood 

Mr.  Josiah  Harvey  

Widow  Sarah  Wilson  

Tohn  Bulkley  

Thomas  Staples  

Edward  Adams  

John  Grummon  

Robert  Meacar  

Rev  Mr  :  Jones  

Jacob  Gray  

Mr.  Jehu  Burr  

John  Banks  

Esburn  Wakeman  

Thomas  Skidmore  

Stephen  Hedge  

Cornelius  Hull  

Mr.  John  Burr  

Obediah  Gilbert  

Joshua  Jennings  

Henry  Rowland  

Joshua  Knowles  

Tohn  Cable  snr  

Richard  Orsborn  

Francis  Bradley  

Thomas  Sherwood  

Humphrey  Hide  

John  Hide  

Peter  Coly  

Peter  Clapham  

John  Sturgis  

John  Cable  Jr  

Dan  iel  Lockwood  

James  Beers  

Samuel  Smith  

336 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


BUILDING 

LOTS. 

PASTURES. 

LONG  LOTS  YE  BREADTH 

Acres. 

Q. 

Rods. 

Acres. 

Q. 

Rods. 

Rods. 

Q. 

Feet. 

John  Barlow  Sr  

09 

08 
06 
10 
05 

IO 

14 

cl 

17 
15 
13 
23 

04 

18 
15 
13 
15 
07 
06 

05 
02 

02 
IO 

04 
06 
05 
05 

17 
04 
°5 
07 
°3 

00 

03 

O3 
OI 
OX 
OO 

oo 
OO 

03 

oa 

OI 

oo 

02 

02 

OI 

00 

o 
a 
o 

3 

i 

3 
o 

i 
3 
3 
3 
o 
a 

3 
o 
o 

06 

24 

18 

18 

21 
32 
06 
00 

24 

34 
04 

34 
27 

24 
04 

25 
oo 

05 

01 
00 

28 

16 
04 
18 
25 

00 

16 
16 
32 
oo 
16 
oo 
oo 

07 
07 
°5 
08 
04 
08 
i 

0 

°5 
4 

2 
0 

8 
3 
4 

2 
O2 
12 
06 
04 

H 
O2 
12 
08 
°3 
04 
04 
04 
13 

°3 
04 

°5 
02 

o 

o 
o 
3 
3 
3 
o 

2 
I 
2 
2 

3 
2 
2 
2 

I 

37 

22 
38 

34 
32 

22 

37 
29 
08 
29 
3i 
03 
°5 
38 
IS 
i? 
29 
oo 

00 

08 

00 

08 

35 
06 
°5 
24 
29 
29 
02 
16 
29 

22 
29 

13 
'3 

IO 

16 
08 
16 

21 
2O 
II 
27 
24 
2O 

35 

28 
23 
05 
23 
ii 
09 
09 

°3 
04 

00 

06 

IO 

09 

29 
26 
06 
09 

10 

04 

3 

3 

2 
O 
2 
O 
2 
O 

3 
3 
o 

3 
o 
o 

2 

3 
o 

o 

2 

o 

3 
o 

°5 
!3 

01 
00 
00 

00 
00 

oo 

03 

oo 
oo 
oo 

05 

00 

oo 

00 

oo 

00 

oo 

00 
OI 
00 

03 

02 

00 

03 

oo 

00 

07 

02 

02 

05 

02 

oo 
02 

00 
02 

02 

.  09 

°7 
oo 

John  Barlow  Jnr     

Eliezear  Smith  

Robt.  Rumsie  

John  Tomkins  

Samuel  Ward              .             .... 

Joseph  Lockwood   

Simon  Couch  

John  Andrews       

Daniel  Frost  

John  Green                                                      .  .    . 

Robt.  Beacham           ...         

John  Wheeler  

Henrick  Henricks                .         

Richard  Lyon             

Rev.  Mr.  Wakeman  

George  Squire  Jnr       

Parsonage    

School                                  

Samuel  Drake    

Isaac  Sherwood            

Samuel  Goodwin  

Nathaniel  Perry  

Thomas  Pell  

John  Bennet             

Thomas  Lyon      

Joseph  Patchin  Sen  

ohn  Smith    

Thomas  Shirvington  

John  Applegate  

B.  Fairfield  Town  Votes,  pp.  67,68. 


No.  XII 


March  ye  10*  1681/2  The  Town  by  vote  declare  y*  ye  old  Indian-field  shall  be  forth- 
with divided  to  ye  Inhabitants  yc  have  right  to  divide  according  to  ye  Lists  of  Estates, 
ye  Greatest  part  of  ye  Comons  having  been  divided. 

A  List  of  ye  Lots  for  ye  old  Indian  field  drawn  this  22"?  March  1681/2. 


Widow  Wheeler 
Goodman  Halls'  farm 

Jos.  Whelplie 
no.  Odell 
Samil  Treadwell 
Isaac  Whee'er 
James  Bennet 
Math.  Sherwood 
Michl.  Try 
Eze.  Sanford 
R.  Knap 
Tho.  Morehouse 
D.  Selleman 
T.  Oliver 
N.  Sely 
Willm  Odell 
SamH  Morehouse 
Ensigne  Turny 
Thomas  Bennet 
J.  Tomson 
Sergt. Squire 
Jos.  Middlebrook 
S  Jones 
Willm  Hill 
Majr  Gold 


13  Jas.  Rowland 
89  Benjn.  Turny 
12  N.  Burr 
20  W.  Hawley 
27  D.  Burr 
15  Moses  Dimon 
36  T.  Wilson 
23  Mr.  Harvy 
56  Widw  Bulkley 
39  Jno    Bulkley 

9  T.  Staples 
74  Ed.  Adams 
69  Jno.  Grumon 
92  Robt.  Meaar 

4  Mrs.  Jones 
19  Jab  Gray 
42  Mr.  John  Burr 
32  Jno.  Banks 
76  Ez.  Wakeman 
30  T.  Skidmore 
58  Steph.  Hedges 
55  Cor.  Hull 
22  Mr.  Jno.  Burr 
71  O.  Gilbert 
35  Jos.  Jennings 


79  H.  Rowland 
84  Jos.  Knowles 
75  Jno.  Cable  Senr 
57  R.  Osburn 
45  Francis  Bradley 
37  T.  Sherwood 
86  Hum.  Hide 
31  Tno.  Hide 

60  P.  Colee 

82  P.  Clapham 
18  Jno.  Knowles 

61  Jno.  Stargis 


Jno.  Cable  Junr 
Dan1.1  Lockwood 


61 

54 

65 

43  James  Beers 

91  Sam11  Drake 

38  Jno.  Applegate 

14  Sam1.1  Smith 

5  Jno.  Barlow  Senr 
49  Eleza  Smith 
85  Rob.  Rumsie 
72  Sam'1  Ward 
66  R.  Ogden 
ii  Jos.  Lockwood 

i  Dan"  Frost 


APPENDIX 


337 


3  Tno.  Green 
10  R   Beachem 
62  Jno.  Wheeler 
28  Henrich  Henrichson 
51  R.  Lyon 
41  Mr.  VVakeman 


83  George  Squire  Junr 
29  Parsonage 
17  School 
50  Mr.  Finch 
70  P.  Barlow 
6  N.  Perry 


NO.    XIII 


16  Tno.  Benne 

25  Tno.  Smith 

2  T.  Shervin 

7  S.  Couch 

46  Jno.  Andrews 

8  Jos.  Patchin 


gton 


DIVIDEND  OF  OLD  INDIAN  FIELD 
10.  Feb.  1682,3 


B.  Town  Votes,  p.  70. 


Acres. 


Rods. 


Feet. 


Inch. 


1  Danll.   Frost 

2  Tho.  Shervington. . 

4  Mrs.  Jones 

5  Jno.  Barlow,  Senr. . 

6  Nathll.  Perry 

7  Simon  Couch 

8  Patching- 

9  Tho.  Staples 

10  R.  Beachem 

11  Jas.  Lockwood 

12  Nathll    Bifrr 

13  Jas.  Rowland 

14  Samll.  Smith 

15  Moses  Dimon 

16  Jno.  Bennet 

17  School 

18  Jno.  Knowles 

iy  Jacob  Gray 

20  Hawly 

21  Nath  Sherwood 

22  Jno.  Burr 

23  Mr.  Harvy 

24  Jno.  Barlow,  Junr. . 

25  Jno.  Smith 

26  Eze.  Sanford 

27  D.  Burr 

28  Hendrick 

29  Parsonage 

30  Thomas  Skidmore. 

31  Jno.  Hide 

32  Jno.  Banks 

33  James  Bennet 

34  Samll.  Morehouse  . 

35  Jas.  Jennings 

36  Tho.  Wilson 

37  Tho.  Sherwood . . . . 

38  Jno.  Applegate 

39  Jno.  Bulkley 

40  Tho.  Bennet 

41  Mr.  Wakeman 

42  Mr.  Jehu  Burr 

43  James  Beers 

44  Willm.  Hill 

45  Francis   Bradley... 

46  Jno.  Andrews 

47  Willm.  O^ell 

48  Ensign  Turny 

49  Eleaz.  Smith 

50  Nath.  Finch 

51  R.  Lyon 

52  Samll.  Treadwell . . 

53  D.  Silliman 

54  Jno.  Cable 

56  Wid.  Kulkley 

57  R.  Osburn 

58  Ste.  Hedge 

59  Isaac  Wheeler 

60  Peter  Colee 

61  Jno.   Sturgis 

62  Jno.  Wheeler 

22 


338 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


Acres. 


Rods. 


Feet. 


•Inch. 


63  Jos.  Whelplie 

64  Tho.   Morehouse 

65  Danll.  Lockwood 

66  Rich  Ogden 

67  Roger  Knap 

63  Jno.  Thompson 

69  Jno.   Grummon 

70  Phebee  Barlow 

71  Wid.  Gilbert   

72  Samll.  Ward 

73  Jno.  OJell 

74  Ed.  Adams  

75  Jno.  Cable  Senr 

76  Ez.  Waketnan 

77  Ssrg't  Squire 

78  Nath:  Sely   

79  Henry  Rowland 

80  Halls'  Farm 

82  Peter  Clapham 

83  George  Squire   Junr. 

84  Jos.  Knovvlcs 

85  R.  Rumsie 

86  Hum.  Hide 

87  Jos.   Middlebrook. . . . 

87  Major  Gold 

88  Wid.  Wheeler 

89  Benjn.  Turny 

90  Tho.  Jones 

91  Samll.    Drake 

92  R.  Meacar 

93  Tho.  Oliver 

94  Mr.  Try 


NO.     XIV 


B.  Town  Votes,  p.  73. 


A  list  of  ye  Lots  at  Compo  neck,  both  ye  Divisions,  ye  first  division  is  3  Rods  per  pound 
ye  Second  division  is  5  Rods  pr  pound,  and  is  as  followeth  1682. 


LOTS. 


83 

2 

58 
60 

6 


74 
98 

23 
36 
82 

13 

89 

34 
57 


ESTATES. 


234 
217 

oSi 
"43 
106 
'95 


93 
262 
in 
25i 
187 
144 

62 
263 

233 

087 
213 
460 
172 


. .  Widow  Wheeler 

..Halls  Farm 

..Joseph  Whelpley 

..Jno   Odd! 

.  .Samll.  Treadwell 

. .  Isaac  Wheeler 

.James   Bennet 

' . . . .  Math  w  Sherwood . . . 

....Rich.   Hubll 

....  Henry  Jackson 

...  Michael  Fry 

. . .  .Ez.  Sandford 

....  Roger  Knap 

. . .  .Tho.    Morehouse 

....Dan.    Silliman 

. . .  .Tho.   Oliver 

....Nathll.   Scly.  Senr... 

.  ...Willm.   Odell,  Senr 

....Samll.  Morehouse 

....Ensign  Robt.  Turny. .. 

....  Tho.  15  cnnet 

....  Jno.  T  omspn 

o     I ...  .Sergt.  Squire 

o     I ...  .Jos  Middlebrook,  Sr.. .. 

o     !....Tho.  Jones 

o      ....Willm.  Hill 

o     I N'athn.  Gold 

o     [ ...  .Sarah  Wilson,  now  Rolandi 


FIRST  DIVISION. 


SECOND  DIVISION. 


Acres. 


Quarters. 


Rds. 


Acres. 


Quarters. 


Rds. 


APPENDIX 


339 


ESTATES. 


90 


'43 
M7 
*77 
347 

220 
IQO 

" 


250 
244 

88 
'33 

93 
243 
265 
185 
254 
290 
179 
133 
254 
iqo 
210 

I75 
188 
185 
170 
238 
JS4 
'47 
194 
080 
040 
138 
1  20 

122 
Ogi 
141 

07I 

'39 

229 
181 
239 
207 
179 
308 
162 
247 
206 
040 
200 
100 
079 
030 

037 

*54 
058 
090 
078 
078 
078 
°93 
178 
091 
060 


.   .Ben.  Turny 

.Nathll.  Burr 

.  Eben.   Hawley 3 

.Danll.  Burr 

.Moses  Dimon 

.Tho.  Wilson 

.  Stephen  Sherwood 

.  Josiah  Harvy 

.  Widow  Wilson 

.Jno.  Bulkley  

.Tho.  Staples 6 

.  Ed.  Adams 4 

.Jno.  Grumon,  Senr 3 

.  Rob.  Meacar 

.  Mrs.  Jones 

.Jacob  Gray 

.  Mr.  Jehu  Burr 4 

.Lieut.  Jno.  Banks 4 

.  Ez.  Wakeman 

.Tho.  Skidmore 

.  Ste.  Hedge 

.Lieut:  Cor:  Hull 

.Jno.   Burr 4 

.Obed.  Gilbert 3 

.Joshua  Jennings 4 

.Henry  Rowland 5 

Joshua  Knowles 3 
no.  Cable,  Senr 

.Rich.  Osburn 4 

.  Frances  Bradley 3 

.Tho.  Sherwood 3 

.Hum.  Hide 3 

.Jno.  Hide 

.  Peter  Coly 

.Peter  Clapham 3 

.  Jno.  Knowles 3 

. Jno.  Sturgis 4 

.  Jno.  Cable,  Junr 

.  Danll.  Lock  wood 

.  James  Beers 3 

.  Samll.  Drake 

.Jno.  Applegate 

.Samll.  Smith 

.Jno.  Barlow,  Senr 

.  Jno.  Barlow,  Junr 

.  Eleaz.  Smith 

.Robt.  Rumsic 

.  [no.  Tompkins 

.Samll.   Ward 

.Rich.  Ogden 4 

.  Jos.  Lockwood 3 

.Danll.  Frost 4 

.Jno.  Green 3 

.  Robt.  Beachem 3 

.  Jno.  Wheeler 5 

.  Hendrick  Henderson 3 

.  Rich.  Lyons, 4 

.  Mr.  Wakeman 3 

.George  Squire,  Junr. . . 

.  Parsonage 3 

.  School ; 

.Nathll.  Finch 

.  Isaac  Sherwood 

.  Samll.  Goden 

.Phe:  &  Deb  Barlow.... 

.Nathll.  Perry 

.Mr.  Pell 

.Jno.  Bennet 

.Tho.  Lyon 

Jno.  Smith 

.  Tho.  Shervington 

.Simon  Couch 3 

Jno.  Andrews 
os:  Patchin 


FIRST  DIVISION. 


Acres.     Quarters.    Rods 


37 


SECOND  DIVISION. 


Acres.     Quarters.    Rods. 


B.  Town  Votes,  p.  76,  77. 


340  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

XV 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  wee  whose  names  are  hereunto  written,  being 
true  proprietors  of  a  neck  of  land,  commonly  called  wolfs  pit  neck  within  ye  bounds  of 
Fayfield  towne,  &  being  resolved  to  make  sale  of  ye  same,  wee  therfore  ye  subscribers 
hereunto  have  sold,  &  doe  by  these  presents  sell,  alienate  &  set  over  from  us,  &  from 
our  heirs,  executors  &  administrators  forever  to  Major  Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  Jehue  Bur,  &  Mr. 
John  Wheeler,  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  rest  of  ye  allowed  inhabitant  of  ye  town  of  Fairfield, 
such  as  were  allowed  deuiders  of  lands  &  to  their  heirs  forever,  for  a  vauabell  considera- 
tion to  us  secured  to  be  payd,  a  parcell  of  land,  being  a  neck  of  land  within  ye  township  of 
Fairfield  as  above  mentioned  called  wolf's  (wolve's)  Pit  neck,  bounded  on  Stratford  dividing- 
line  on  ye  north-east,  on  ye  other  side  with  ye  land  of  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  aforesaid  Fair- 
field  ;  wee  ye  sd.  subscribers  have  sold  to  ye  said  Major-Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  Jehue  Bur,  &  Mr. 
John  Wheeler  for  ye  ves  of  ye  town  aforesaid,  the  aforesaid  mentioned  neck  of  land,  all 
our  interest  &  propriety  of  land  thar  forever,  to  enioy  as  thar  owne  propor  land,  without 
let  or  molistation  from  us  or  from  ours,  &  do  affirm  ourselves,  to  have  good  right  to 
sell  the  same,  it  being  a  parcell  of  land  sequestered  by  Court  for  our  ves  &  improve- 
ment, &  doe  fully  acquit  ye  town  of  Fayrfield  forever  not  to  challang  or  lay  claim  to  ye 
aforesaid,  as  witness  our  hands  February  the  eleventh  1685  ;  wee  ye  above  sayd  sub- 
scribers doe  by  these  presents  fully  acquit  &  discharge  ye  afoarsayd  town  of  Fayrfield 
from  all  manner  of  claims,  demands  &  rights  of  land  within  ye  town  of  Fayrfield,  or  ves 
of  any  land  of  them  to  plant  or  any  other  ves,  either  from  us  or  from  our  heirs  forever, 
witness  our  hands  ye  day  above, 

The  mark  of        X        Penomscot.  The  mark  of        X        Kahaco 

The  mark  of        X        Pasoroimpom.  The  mark  of        X        Shaganoset 

The  mark  of        X        Machoka  The  mark  of        X        Old  Anthony 

Atunk's  daughter.  The  mark  of        X        Pascoy 

The  mark  of        X        Pony  The  mark  of        X        Juterpretar 

The  mark  of        X        Matamke 
Signed  in  presence  of 

Nathanial  Paine 
Thomas  T.  W.  Williams, 
his  mark 

The  above  deed  of  sale  was  owned  by  ye  several  Indians  whose  names  are  subscribed 
thereto,  to  be  thar  free  act  the  11.  Feb.  1685  before  Jehu  Bur 

Commissioner 
The  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  originall  recorded  this  31.  May  1686  by  me 

Nathan  Gold  Recorder 
It  is  to  be  noted  ye  deed  of  which  this  is  a  copy,  is  on  file  with  ye  county  clerk.* 

NO.  XVI 
INDIAN  DEED  OF  HIGHWAY  ACROSS  GOLDEN  HILL. 

WHEREAS  it  is  complained  yt  there  is  no  allowed  highway  for  passing  &  repassing  of 
Inglish  not  endians,  from  ye  highway  between  Fayrfield  &  Stratford  into  ye  endian  field 
called  Golden  Hill,  it  being  as  is  informed  partaining  to  both  John  Beardsley,  ytt  land 
whear  it  is  thought  meet  &  convenient  sd  highway  shall  be,  ye  endians  of  Golden  Hill 
earnestly  desiring  a  highway  be  layd  out  there  or  near  there,  whear  ye  path  lyeth  from 
Samuel  Gregorie's  across  ye  Indian  Field  yt  goeth  towards  Stratford,  &  being  very  con- 

*  A.  Fairfield  Town  Deeds  p.  661. 


APPENDIX  341 

venient  also  for  ye  Inglish  for  egress  &  regress  thare,  as  occasion  may  bee,  upon  which 
consederation  it  is  agreed  firmly  by  these  presents,  by  &  between  both  John  Beardsley  of 
Stratford  &  ye  Indians  belonging  or  partaining  to  Golden  Hill  aforesayd,  in  bounds  of 
Stratford  : 

That  a  highway  shall  be  staked  out  two  rods  broad  at  ye  fence,  whare  the  path  goeth 
into  sd  Beardlie's  ground,  leading  to  ye  Indian  Field  or  land  tharr,  &  to  hold  ye  same 
bredth  till  it  come  to  ye  endian  land,  &  this  being  so  laid  out  thare  as  ye  path  now  goeth 
so  to  remain  highway  forever,  for  free  passage  for  Inglish  &  Endians,  for  whose  carts  & 
foot  as  occasion  may  be,  ye  highway  hath  its  entrance  into  ye  sd  Beardsly's  land,  leading 
to  sd.  Endian-field  a  little  east  of  Samuel  Gregrorie's  hous,  whear  he  now  luirth  whear 
ye  path  abouesaid  is,  &  sd  highway  is  bounded  south-east  with  ye  land  of  Leeft.  John 
Beardslie's  aforesaid,  on  the  north-west  with  ye  land  of  Henry  Summars,  which  highway 
is  to  remain  for  yt  ves,  as  aboue  for-euver,  without  any  let  or  claim  or  molestation  from  ye 
sd  John  or  any  by  or  vndar  him  ;  &  in  consideration  of  ye  aboue  grant  of  sd.  highway  by 
said  John,  his  heirs  executors  &  administrators  &  assigns,  we  ye  Endians  foresaid  par- 
taining to  said  Golden  Hill  do  give  and  grant  alienate,  asigne,  &  set  ouer  from  us,  our 
heirs  executors  £  administrators  &  assigns,  onto  ye  aboue  said  John  Beardsley  &  his  heirs 
forever,  peacably  to  have  &  hold  without  any  let,  claim,  or  molestation  from  us,  our  heirs 
or  any  of  us,  or  any  by,  from,  or  vunder  us,  at  any  time  hear  after,  but  quietly  to  possess 
&  enjoy  ye  same  &  every  part  of  ye  vunder  written  land,  being  a  parsell  or  bouge  of  low- 
land or  rockey  medow,  with  sum  parts  of  hard-land,  to  ye  quantity  of  about  two  acres  more 
or  less  ;  sd.  land  is  bounded  on  ye  South  with  ye  fence  parting  ye  Inglish  &  ye  Endian 
land  theare,  &  northarly,  bounded  on  ye  path  going  throw  ye  field,  on  all  other  sides 
with  ye  Endian  land  ;  &  for  confirmation  of  this  as  thare  unto,  all  agreement  ye  parties, 
aboue  mentioned,  haue  set  to  thar  hands,  with  promises  yt  sd.  John  be  not  so  molested  as 
to  haue  ye  land  taken  away  from  him  or  his,  if  so  it  be,  then  this  to  be  void  &  of  none 
effect,  witness  our  hands  this  8.  of  June  1686.  signed  and  delieured  in  presence  of  vs  wit- 
nesses, 

Nathan  Gold,  Sr.  Saacus  X     his  mark. 

Samuel  Morehouse.  Pascot  X     his  mark. 

John  Beardsley  Pony  X     his  mark. 

Wowompom     X     his  mark.  Roben  X     his  mark. 

Panomscot        X     his  mark. 

It  is  to  be  noted  yt.  ye.  sd.  two  acres  of  land  mentioned,  lyeth  in  ye  Endian  land  in 
Golden  Hill. 

The  Endians  signing,  &  John  Beardsley's  hand  acknowledged  ye  aboue  agreement  to 
bee  thar  act,  &  deed  in  Fairfield,  this  8.  of  June  1686  before  me, 

Nathan  Gold  Assistant. 

This  is  aboue  copye  of  ye  original,  compared  &  recorded  this  8.  June  1686  by  me, 

Nathan  Gold,  Recorder. 
A.  Town  Deeds  p.  519. 
No.  XVII 

BANKSIDE  LANDS 

Whereas  ye  town  of  Fayrfeild  ded  grant  formarly  to  ye  west  farmars  belonging  to 
Fayrfeild  a  deuesion  of  a  parsell  of  land,  Commonly  called  a  hors  pastuer,  &  y'  in  cas  ye 
sd  farmars  could  not  agree  to  deuicle  ye  sd  pastuer  amongst  them  Selues  y*  then  mair. 


342  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Gold  Mr.,  John  Bur  &  Sargant  John  Wheeler  ware  apointed  to  detirmine  ye  way  of 
deuision  of  Sd  land,  but  ye  Sd  farmars  haueing  agreed  about  ye  deuision  of  Sd  land  &  layd 
it  out  :  we  ye  sayd  presons  apointed  to  cletermin  Consarning  ye  deuision  of  Sd  land, 
doe  See  Caus  to  aproue  of  y*  deuision  allredy  made  among  them  Selues,  except  anny  mistak 
in  measuering. 
June  ye  8th  1687. 

That  this  is  our  agreement  or  conclusion,  wee  haue  hearunto  set  our  hands. 

Nathan  Gold 
John  Bur 
John  Wheeler 
Recorded  this  loth  of  Octobar  1687  by  mee,  Nathan  Gold  Recorder. 

No.  XVIII 

Wee,  whos  names  are  vnclar  written,  being  impovured  &  oppointed  by  ye  Generoll 
Court  in  May  ye  i6th  1687  to  set  out  unto  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  Bankeside  such  proportions 
of  lands  as  become  due  to  them  by  natue  of  yr  agreement  with  ye  town  of  Fayrfield  to 
each  man  by  proportion  we  make  retern  as  followeth. 

As  comparing  ye  lands  within  fence,  which  is  commonly  called  ye  horse  pasture 
which  yee  formerly  inioyed,  we  find  they  haue  deuided  themseues  to  thar  good  satisfaction 
as  Daniel  Frost,  Joseph  Lockwood,  Robert  Beacham,  John  Green,  Simon  Croutch.  It  is 
to  be  noated  yt  deuesion  of  land  in  ye  hors  pasture  yt  was  so  set  out  to  Robert  Beacham 
&  Joseph  Lockwood,  shall  remain  good  to  them,  if  ye  sd  Beacham  &  Lockwood  signe  to 
ye  agreement  yt  was  made  with  ye  town,  bearing  date  ye  29.  June  1666.  As  for 
ye  remainder  of  ye  gained,  so  called,  being  within  ye  sd  fence,  wee  have  set  out  to 
each  man  his  proportion  as  followeth  : 

First:  wee  haue  laid  out  to  ye  estate  of  Daniel  Frost  deceased  &  to  his  sucksesors  fiue 
acres  anexed,  to  ye  meadow  of  John  Andrews,  westward,  to  ly  next  to  Frost  ;  we  have 
laid  out  to  Joseph  Lockwood  as  he  is  sucksessor  to  Henry  Grey  deceased,  fiue  acres 
if  ye  sd  Lockwood  signe  to  ye  agreement,  yt  was  made  with  ye  town  of  Fayrfield  June  ye 
29.  1666  :  3dly,  next  to  Joseph  Lockwood,  wee  haue  layd  out  to  John  Green  fiue  acres 
lying  by  ye  main  creeke,  except  one  small  piece  nearer  hoam,  hee  to  haue  a  highway  a 
rod  wide,  in  some  conuenient  place  through  ye  sd  Lockwood's  meadow  to  come  to  his 
own. —  4thly  next  to  John  Green  we  haue  lay'd  out  to  Robert  Beacham  fiue  acres,  as 
hee  is  sucksessor  to  Thomas  Newton  deceased,  if  ye  sd  Beacham  sign  to  ye  agreement  yt 
was  made  with  ye  towne  Fayrfield  June  29*  1666.  .  .  Sthly,  Next  to  Robart  Beacham 
wee  haue  layd  out  to  Simon  Croutch,  as  he  is  successor  to  Frances  Andrews  deceased  fiue 
acres,  and  last  after  Coutch  wee  haue  layed  out  fiue  acres  to  ye  fiue  farmers  aboue 
mentioned,  to  each  of  ym  an  equal  proportion  which  they  may  call  plasteds  if  they  pleas. 

Thus  wee  haue  layd  out  ye  sd  land  &  meadow,  to  each  man  his  proportion  according 
to  order.  September  ye  6th  :  1687 

John  Bur    John  Wheeler  t/> 

Thomas  Wilson  ?jT 

Ephraham  Nichols 

Thomas  Tones 

J  n 

Samuel  Morehouse  p 

This  is  a  true  copy  of  Ye  originall,  recorded  &  compared  this  14.  Sep.  1687,  by 
mee,  Nathan  Gold — Recorder 


APPENDIX 


No.  XIX 


343 


At  a  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Fairfield  ye  6th  of  Ap"  1688,  ye  Sd  Town  ordered 
y«  Pauls  neck  &  ye  reedy  ponds  &  ye  Swamp  and  ye  half  mile  of  Comon,  lying  between 
ye  building  &  pasture  Lots,  So  called  long  Since  laid  out,  &  two  mile  &  half  of  ye  mile  of 
Comon  it  to  ly  lengthwayes,  all  which  to  be  forthwith  laid  out  to  ye  Rightfull  dividers,  & 
those  if  any  y*  Shall  be  admitted  to  divide  w>th  ym,  to  be  laid  out  In  manner  following,  one 
lot  to  be  drawn  for  all  Said  Divisions  by  Each  Divider  for  his  part,  &  to  begin  &  go  on  in 
Each  Division  till  ye  whole  is  finished — Large  high  wayes  to  be  left  round  Pauls  neck,  & 
to  begin  to  lay  out  Sd  Lots  at  ye  north-east  End,  one,  two,  three  in  order  till  ye  whole  is 
Run  out — ye  Swamp  pond  Reeds  ye  laying  out  ye  same  to  begin  by  an  highway  to  be 
laid  out  by  Jn°  Bulkley's  Ditch,  one,  two,  three  till  all  is  Run  out  y*  buts  against  ye  burying 
hill,  this  tear  to  run  through  quite  across  ye  hassuky  ground  there,  &  ye  Remaining  part  of 
ye  Swamp  &  hassuks  to  be  fronted  on  ye  high  way,  to  be  laid  out  between  ye  front  of 
Nathan  Gold  &  Willm  Reed,  £  ye  rest  of  ye  meadow  y'  lies  against  ye  Swamp  there,  & 
ye  scl  Swampy  Land  to  begin  in  this  tear  on  the  north  east  Side  of  Said  Land  by  Nathan 
Golds  Ditch,  &  So  in  order  till  all  that  is  Run  out,  &  to  rear  it  on  ye  tear  butting  against 
ye  burying  place  &  ye  ponds,  Reeds  &  hassuks  ;  y'  land  lying  below  ye  Cart  way  over 
ye  Swamp,  ye  Lots  to  run  across  Sd  Land,  buting  at  Each  End  South  west  &  north  East 
on  an  high  way,  which  high  waye  are  to  be  in  ye  measure  of  Each  Lot.  Sd  high  way  is 
for  men  to  come  at  yr  Land  for  to  bring  of  their  hay,  &  other  needfull  occasions  there,  to 
begin  ye  laying  out  this  tear  next  ye  Sd  Cart  way,  so  in  order  till  ye  tear  is  run  out  at 
ye  beach,  &  ye  remainder  of  ye  Land  wch  lyeth  on  ye  South  East  of  Nathan  Gold's  meadow 
wch  Land  is  to  front  on  ye  beach  &  rear  on  Nathan  Gold's  meadow.  &  to  begin  to  lay  it  out 
by  ye  high  way  y'  goes  down  from  ye  Cart  way  yf  goes  over  ye  Swamp  on  ye  South  west 
Side  of  Sd  Tear  last  laid  out,  y4  runs  to  ye  beach,  £  So  to  go  on  in  order  till  all  ye  Lots  are 
laid  out.  A  Liberty  is  reserved  for  draining  said  Swamp  &  pon.ds  in  all  necessary  places 
for  draining  &  measure,  is  to  be  allowed  for  Said  drains,  &  when  ye  major  part  of  ye  pro- 
prietors Shall  agree  to  drain  Sd  Swamp  and  ponds,  those  of  Sd  Dividers  y'  will  neither  help 
their  part  in  draining,  nor  pay  for  yr  parts  doing,  Shall  forfeit  yr  parts  to  y«  rest  of 
y6  Dividers.  Jn°  \Yakeman  &  Thos  Wilson  to  lay  out  Sd  Swamp  land.  &  Dan11  Burr  & 
Eliphelet  Hill  to  lay  out  Pauls  neck— on  ye  9th  of  Ap11  1688  by  reason  of  Mr.  Dan11  Burr's 
absence,  ye  Townsmen  appoint  Thos  Wilson,  Jn°  Wakeman,  £  Eliphelet  Hill  to  lay  out 
ye  Swamp  &  Pauls  neck. 

B.  Fairfield  Town  Votes,  p.  Si. 

No.    XX 

Here  followeth  ye  Divisions  of  Pauls  neck  to  ye  Several  Dividers  in  1688,  wth  yr  order 
of  lying. 


Jno.  Green 

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

TI 

12 

'3 

14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
*9 

20 

Humphry  Hide  

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

6 
ii 
7 

9 
6 
6 
o 

0 

Q 
6 

'! 

26 

26 
9 
J9 
14 
29 
24 
14 
iq 

o 
I 

2 
I 

6 
o 

2 
I 
0 
2 

o 
8 
6 
o 
o 
o 
6 
6 
o 
q 

16 
16 

22 

16 

22 

17 
12 

8 
8 
3 

3 
I 

3 

1 
0 
O 

6 
a 

Robt.  Beachem..         .... 

Simon  Couch.. 

Mr.  Samuel  Wakeman... 

Roger  Knap.        

Sergt.  Rich:  Hubbel!  
Sergt.  George  Squire.  .  .  . 
Danll  Lockwood        .... 

Peter  Coly 

Jos    Whelplie  

Tho.    Jones  

Parsonage.  .  . 

Samll  Godwin.  .  . 

344 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


Sergt  Samll  Ward  
Peter  Clapham 

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

64  Sarah    Wilson  

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

T3 
16 
20 
26 
4 

10 

9 
20 
10 
IS 

22 
12 

9 
6 

7 

21 
30 

5 
10 

15 
29 

17 
*9 
»9 
17 
7 
T3 
13 
9 
J3 
J3 

6 

22 
12 
21 

7 

22 

5 

2 
48 

8 

2 

8 
o 
8 
6 
o 

8 

0 

o 

2 
I 
2 

6 
9 
8 
J5 

6 
o 
16 

2 

16 
o 
8 

9 
o 

0 

o 
8 
o 
o 
8 
o 
8 
o 
8 
o 
9 
8 

6 
6 
o 
6 

3 
o 
o 
6 

0 

o 
6 
6 
o 
6 

6 

9 
o 
6 
6 
o 
9 

0 

o 
6 

10 

7 
o 
o 
o 
6 
6 
o 
8 
o 
9 

6 
o 

10 

o 
o 

I7 
13 
18 

25 
ii 

22 

7 

IO 

8 
24 
7 
4 

12 
23 
13 
12 

7 
7 
13 

17 
18 
9 
13 
18 
24 
17 
13 
17 
20 

7 
I? 

5 
7 
25 
6 
6 
14 
13 

13 

2 

8 
o 
o 
o 
o 
8 
8 
o 
o 

o 
o 
o 
o 

8 
o 
o 
o 

I 

o 

8 
8 
8 
8 
o 
o 
8 
8 
i 
8 
o 

2 
O 
O 
0 
O 

O 
0 

6 
o 
o 
o 
o 
6 
ii 
o 
o 
9 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
6 
o 
o 

0 

o 
6 
o 

6 
6 
o 

6 

0 

io 

9 
6 
6 
o 
6 
6 
o 
o 
6 
o 
o 
o 

65  Samll    Smith 

Michael  Try.                .... 

66  John  Grumon 

Henry  Rowland     

67  Cornelius  Hull  

George  Squire  Junr  

68  Thomas  Wilson. 

69  John  Sturgis 

Tho.   Oliver 

70  Tho.  Shervington.  .  . 

Widow  Wheeler. 

71  Willm    Odcll 

Samll  Trcdwell 

72  Eleazr     Smith. 

John  Knowles.... 

73  Rich  Osburn 

Halls   farm.        

74  Samll  Drake   . 

75  |ohn   Applcgate 

Mr  Danll  Burr  . 

76  Jno.  Barlow  Senr 

Tho.   Lyon.. 

77  'Danll.  Frost. 

John  Andrus  

78  Tho.    Bennet  

Jos.  Middlebrook  . 

79  Jno.   Hide.  .  . 

Tho.   Staples 

80  Nathll.   Finch  .  .  . 

Jos    Patchin  

81  Jno.   Smith  

Tho.  Morehouse  Senr.  .  . 
Math.    Sherwood 

82  Tho.  Skidmore  

83  Jos.  Lockwood 

Sergt.    Jno.  Wheeler.... 

84  Nathll.    Burr. 

8>;  Stephen    Hedges 

Willm  Hill 

86  Tho.    Sherwood 

Willm   Ward 

87  Isaac  Wheeler    . 

Capt.  Robt.  Turny  
Ezbon  Wakeman  

88  Joshua  Jennings 

89  Obed  Gilbert  

Josiah  Harvy.. 

90  Stephen  Sherwood  
91  Tames    Beers 

Jno.   Cable  Junr.. 

Danll  Silleman  

92  Edward   Adams. 

Henderick  Hendarson... 
Robt.  Rumsie...           ... 

93'  Moses   Dimon  

94  Frances   Bradley  
95  Mrs.  Jones 

Phebe  &  Deb  Barlow.  .  .  . 
Nathll  Perry   

96  Ben.   Turny.  .  . 

Mr  Jehu  Burr.  .  . 

97  Nathll.  Sely 

Jno.  Barlow  Junr.  .  .  . 

98  Jno.  Bulkley 

Rich  .  Ogden  

99  Jno.    Tomkins. 

John  Bennet  

oo,  Widow  Bulkey. 

Samll.  Morehouse  

1     01  Eze.  Sanford  

John  Thompson  

02  James  Bennet. 

Isaac  Sherwood  

0-5  Jonan.    Morehouse 

John  Odell   . 

Nathan  Gold  

oslTho.  Dickenson  

Mr  Pell  . 

B.  Town  Votes,  p.  24. 


No.   XXI 


Here  followeth  ye  Lots  as  they  are  laid  out  In  ye  wolf  Swamp  before  ye  Town,  with 
ye  Reed  ponds  £  hassucks,  ye  order  of  yr  lying  as  on  ye  other  Side  of  this  leaf,  being  ye 
Same  with  Pauls  neck,  with  ye  number  of  rods  in  ye  margent  of  both  Sd  wolf  Swamp  & 
Reeds  &  Pauls  neck,  pertaining  to  Each  Dividor  or  proprietor  laid  out  in  1688  :  according 
to  an  order  of  ye  town,  dated  ye6th  of  Ap11  1688.  also  ye  distinct  number  of  rods  Each 
p'son  has  set  on  y  right  hand  of  Each  name  as  to  yeSd  Swamp,  reeds  &  hassuck. 


Rods. 

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

Rods. 

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

103 
132 
138 
47 
98 
73 
145 
127 
52 
go 

Jno.  Green  

84 
104 

112 

38 

79 
59 
116 
103 
58 
78 

o 
o 

9 

12 
OO 
II 
OO 

OO 

o 

6 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

86 
86 
117 

85 
118 
87 
59 
38 
41 
17 

Humphrie  Hide  

70 
70 
95 
69 
96 
7° 
47 
3° 
33 
14 

4 
9 
o 
8 
ii 
o 
o 
o 

o 

o 
o 
o 

0 

o 
o 
o 
o 

o 

Mr  Jno.  Burr 

Henry  Jackson 

Jno.  Banks.                  

School    

Simon  Couch          

Mr  Samll  Wakeman  

Rich  Lyon       

Jno.  Cable  Junr.         

Roger  Knap 

Sergt.  Rich:  Hubbell  
Sergt  George  Squire  
Danll  Lockwood  

Peter  Coly 

Jos.   Whelplie  

Tho.  Jones                   .    . 

Parsonage  .  .  . 

Samll.  Goodwin.  .  . 

APPENDIX 


345 


Rods. 

Rods. 

Feet. 

Inches. 

Rods. 

Rods.  Feet. 

i 

Inches  . 

47 
88 
98 
138 
28 
54 
39 
in 
52 
r4 
69 
228 
43 
83 
63 

93 

120 

56 
II4 

45 
45 
45 
124 

39 
20 

66 

687 
62 
39 
39 
66 
88 

93 
46 

95 
96 
124 

£4 

67 

93 
106 

AS 

Sergt  Samll.  Ward 

54 
72 
78 
1  08 

8 
6 

0 

o 
o 

0 

94 

27 

39 
128 

Frances  Bradley  

77 

22 

32 
I03 

11 

ll 

85 
47 
39 
30 

35 
191 
130 

23 
46 
61 

120 

84 
78 
70 

44 

56 
59 
40 

55 
°55 
23 
97 
48 
85 
30 

9i 
20 
5i 
56 
7 
7 
7 

o 

0 

o 

9 
o 
o 

0 
0 
0 

o 

0 
0 

o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 
0 

o 

0 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 

0 

o 

0 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

0 

6 
o 

0 

o 

0 
0 

o 

0 
0 
0 
0 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 
o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 

0 

Mrs.  Jones  

Michel  Fry 

Ben.  Turney.  .  . 

Nathll.  Sely.... 

George  Squire  Junr  
Jacob  Gray 

16 
44 
36 
9t 
42 

12 

56 
1  80 

35 
66 
54 
75 
95 
45 
92 
38 
35 
36 

100 

32 
16 
54 
094 
55 
5° 
32 

o 

0 

o 
o 
o 
6 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
6 
o 

0 

o 
o 

6 
3 

o 
o 
o 
o 

0 
0 

o 
o 
o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 
o 

0 

o 

0 
0 

o 

39 
34 
72 
81 
105 
59 
48 
36 
37 

112 

160 

28 

56 
76 

149 
87 
103 
97 
87 
41 
69 
72 
49 
43 
68 
66 
29 

John  Bulkly 

Jno.  Tompkins  

Tho.  Oliver 

Widow   Bulkly  

Jno.   Knowles  

Samll  Treadwell 

Hall's  farm  

Robt.   Meacar  

Jno.    Odell 

Mr  Danll.  Burr  

Nathan  Gold. 

Tho.  Lyon  

Mr  Pell 

Jno.  Andrus  

Sarah  Wilson    

os.   Middlebrook  
Tho.  Staples  

Jos.  Patchin  

Tho  Morehouse  Senr  
Lieut.  Math:  Sherwood... 
Sergt.  John  Wheeler  
Joshua  Knowles  

Tl  o  Wilson 

John  Sturgis   

Willm  Odell 

Willm  Hill  

Eleazer  Smith 

Willm   Ward  

Robt.  Turny  

Izbon  Wakeman  

Josiah  Harvey  

Jno.  Cable  

Danll  Frost 

Danll.  Silleman  

Tho.    Bennet 

Henry  Hendrickson  
Robt.  Rumsie  

Nathll    Finch.. 

Phebe  &  Deborah  Barlow. 
Xathll.  Perrv  

53 
7' 
75 
37 

o 
o 

0 

o 

119 
60 
iro 
37 

Jehu  Burr  

Jno.  Barlow  Junr  

Nathll    Burr 

Rich:  Ogden  

Jno.  Bennet  

Samll   Morehouse  

78 

IOO 

73 
54 
76 

86 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

o 
o 

0 

o 
o 
o 

H3 

25 

54 
69 
9 
9 
9 

Jno.  Tomson  

Eze.  Sanford  

Obediah   Gilbert 

James  Bennet  

Tho.  Dickenson  

Jno.  Morehouse  

Jonathn  Morehouse  

Moses  Dimon.  .  . 

B.  Town  Votes  p.  93. 


No.  XXII 


Here  follows  a  draught  of  ye  Lots  for  Pauls'  neck  &  ye  wolf  Swamp  &  reedy  ponds,  & 
ye  two  half  mile  of  Comon,  &  two  miles  in  length  of  y6  mile  of  Comon,  more  fully  appear- 
ing in  an  order  of  ye  town  dated  ye  6th  of  Ap"  1688.,  &  y*  each  divider  Should  draw  one 
Lot  for  his  part  of  Said  Divisions. 


Widow  Wheeler 28 

Halls'  Farm 31 

Jos.  Whelplie 18 

Jno.  Odell 61 

Samll.  Treadwell 29 

Isaac  Wheeler 87 

James  Bennet 102 

Mathw.  Sherwood 40 

Rich:    Hubll 07 

Henry  Jackson 3 

Michael  Fry 23 

Ezll.  Sanford 101 

Roger  Knap 16 

Thos.  Morehouse 39 

Danll.  Silleman 49 

Thos.  Oliver 27 

Nathll.  Sely 97 

Willm.    Odell 71 

Samll.    Morehouse 58 

Robt.  Turny 45 


Thos.  Bennet 78 

Ser jt.  Squire 8 

Jos.  Middlebrook 36 

Tho.    Jones...                                .  in 

Willm.  Hill 43 

Nathan    Gold 62 

Sarah  Wilson 64 

Ben  Turny .  96 

Nathll.  Burr 


Willm.  Ward 44 

Danll.  Burr 33 

Moses  Dimon 93 

Tho.  Wilson 68 

Stephen  Sherwood 90 

Mr  Harvy 47 

Widow  Bulkley 100 

Jos.    Bulklv 98 

Tho.  Staples 37 

Edward  Adams 92 

Jno.  Grummon 66 


Robt.  Meacar 32 

Mrs.  Jones 95 

"acob  Gray 26 

ehu  Burr 54 

Banks 13 

sburn  Wakeman 46 

Tho.  Skidmore 82 

Stephen  Hedge 85 

Cor.  Hull 67 

Jno.  Burr i 

Obed  Gilbert 89 

Joshua  Jennings S8 

Henry  Rowland 24 

Joshua  Knowls 42 

Jno.  Cable  Senr 48 

Rich  Osborne 73 

Frances  Bradly 94 

Tho.  Sherwood S6 

Goodman  Hide 79 

Peter  Coly 17 


346 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


Peter  Clapham 22 

Jno.    Knowles 30 

Jno.   Sturgis 69 

Jno.   Cable  Junr 6 

Danll.  Lockwood 9 

James   Beers QI 

Samll.    Drake 74 

Jno.   Arjlegate      75 

Samll.  Smith 65 

Jno.  Barlow  Senr 76 

Jno.  Barlow  Junr 55 

Eleaz  Smith 72 

Robt.    Rumsie 51 

Tompkins 99 


Samll.  Ward 

Rich.  Ogden. 

Jos.   Lockw 

Danll.  Frost 

Jno.  Green 

Robt.   Beachem 

Jno.  Wheeler 

Hendrich    Henderson. 

Mr.   Wakeman 

George  Squire  Junr. . . 

Parsonage 

School 

Finch  


21  Isaac  Sherwood 

56  Samll.   Godwin 

83  Febe  &  Deb  Barlow 

77  Nathll.  Perry... 

7  Mr  Pell 


12    Jno.   Bennet... 
41     Tho. 


Lyon. 

50    Jno.   Smith 

05    Tho.  Sherwington. ....... 

Simon  Couch. . . 


Jno.  Andrus 

Pate 


tchin. 


04 

80    Jno.   Tomson 


No.  XXIII 


Here  followeth  ye  names  of  ye  freemen  allowed  by  ye 
this  1 8*  of  March  1689/90. 


Robt  Rumsie  * 

Samll  Drake  * 

Jos.  Bastard  * 

Samll  Robinson  * 

Epm.   Nickols  * 

Jno.  Wakeman  * 

Jno.  Sturgis  junr 

Nathan  Gold  junr. 

Elipht  Hill  * 

Samll.  Squire  * 

Samll.  Adams  * 

Abram  Adams 

Nathll.  Burr  Junr* 

Jose  :   Seeley  * 

Jno.   Wheeler 

Willm  Hill 

Tho.  Willson  * 

James  Neuton  * 

Jas.  Beers  * 

John  Whetlock  * 

Samll   Hub'll* 

Willm.  Reed  * 

Benjn.  Banks  * 

Jno.  Odell  Junr 

Jacob  Gray  * 

Jno.  Osburn  Sworn  ye  i7th  March 

1690/1 

Mr  Charles  Chauncey  * 
Mr  Peter  Burr 
Jos :   Phippeny 
Jnn.  Sturgis 
Samll.  Couch 
Simon  Couch 
Jno.  Edwards 
George  Squire  * 
Jnn.  Squire 
Rich  Lyon 
Serjt.  Ma :  w  Sherwood  * 


Tim:  Wheeler 
Rich:  Hubbll 
Samll  Gregory  * 
Theoph  :  Hull  * 
Jos  :  Sturgis 
Moses  Dimon 
Thadus  Burr 
Ephrm  Burr 
Jehu  Burr 
David  Treadwell 
Benjn.  Banks 
Jno  Hide  Senr 
Jas.  Beers 
Samll.  Bradley  Senr 
Jacob  Gray 
Peter  Sturgis 
Samll.  Osburn 
Hen  :  Rowland 
Samll.  Hall 
Davd  Sherman 
James  Bennet 
Jno.  Burr 
Giddeon  Allin 
Jos.  Jennings 
Mr.  Jos.  Webb 
Samll.  Cable  * 
Moses  Dimon 
Samll.  Wheeler  * 
Jno.  Smith 
Samll.  Treadwell 
Robt.  Silleman 
Samll.  Odell 
Danll.  Morehouse 
Lieut.  Jos.  Wakeman 
Abell  Bingham  * 
Jno.  Treadwell 
Jno.  Darling 
Jno.  Barlow  * 


B.  Town  Votes,  p.  92. 


Townsmen  of  Fairfield,  &  Sworn 


Samll.  Smedley 

Jno.  Downs 
no.  Osburn 
Jacob  Patchin 
Tho.  Sanford 

The  Revd.  Danll  Chapman. 
James  Sely 
Jno.  Wheeler 
Robt.  Turny 
David  Sturgis 
Tho.  Turny 
Andrew  Burr 
Tho.  Couch 
Danll.  Adams 
Peter  Bulkly 
Thos.  Disbrow 
George  Hull 
Peter  Coly 
Benjn.  Gilbert 
Samll.  Gold 
Samll.  Couch  Junr 
Jos.  Wakeman 

}os.  Darling 
os.  Crane 
Davd  Hubll 
Eleazer  Sturgis 
Nathll.   Burr  Junr 
Ebenz.  Dimon 
Jno.  Barthram 
Capn.  Mathw  Sherwood 
Jno.  Odell  Senr 
Ens.  Isaac  Wheeler  * 
Lieut.  James  Bennet  * 
Samll.  Morehouse 
Samll.  Treadwell  Senr 
Tho.  Jones 
Jno.  Bulkley  * 
Benjn.  Fairweather 

B.  Town  Votes,  p. 


GENEALOGIES 


GENEALOGIES 


The  brief  genealogical  record  of  this  work  has  necessarily  been  very  imperfectly  gathered. 
But  little  assistance  has  been  given  to  the  author,  save  by  those  who  have  donated  their  own  labor, 
in  compiling  a  far  more  full  family  genealogy  than  she  could  possibly  find  time  to  give  to  any  one 
family.  Those  which  she  has  given  are  intended  as  guides  to  persons  who  may  be  compiling  full 
family  genealogies.  Carrying,  as  her  aim  has  been,  as  far  as  time  and  opportunity  have  offered, 
the  names  of  the  pioneers  of  Fairfield  and  their  descendants  for  three  generations,  many  persons 
at  the  present  time  will,  from  them,  be  able  to  make  their  family  links,  by  comparing  them  with 
home  records  and  family  Bibles.  The  Probate  and  Town  records  of  Fairfield  are  rich  with  recorded 
and  unrecorded  wills  on  file.  Many  of  the  latter  bear  coats  of  arms  stamped  upon  the  seals. 
The  Probate  and  Town  records  of  Fairfield  and  Bridgeport,  with  their  parish  records,  and  the 
parish  records  of  Green's  Farms,  Greenfield  Hill,  Redding,  Easton  and  VVeston,  offer  valuable 
assistance  to  the  genealogist.  The  author  deeply  regrets,  for  want  of  time  and  the  assistance 
which  every  family  should  take  pride  in  contributing  towards  this  undertaking,  her  inability  to 
give  other  names,  as  worthy  of  mention  as  some  of  those  which  she  has  given.  To  write  full 
genealogies  of  all  the  early  settlers  of  Fairfield,  even  for  three  generations,  would  be  a  life  work  of 
several  volumes. 

GENEALOGICAL    TABLE 

ADAMS 

EDWARD  ADAMS  was  at  New  Haven  in  1640,  was  in  Milford  in  1646,  &  at  Fairfield  in  1650. 
He  purchased  a  house  &  home-lot  of  Andrew  Ward  7.  Dec.  1653,  west  of  Hyde's  Pond,  but 
soon  removed  to  Barlow's  Plain.  In  his  will  dated  7.  Aug.  1671,  he  mentions  s.  Samuel,  to 
whom  he  gave  his  house  &  home-lot  in  the  town,  lying  between  Francis  Bradley's  &  John 
Tompkins,  provided  he  finished  it  at  his  own  expense,  after  being  furnished  with  stones,  mortar, 
&  attendance  for  the  walls  to  be  thirteen  feet  high,  to  be  paid  for  out  of  the  estate  ;  to  s.  Abra- 
ham ten  acres  at  Barlow's  Plain,  lying  next  that  he  gave  his  d.  Mary's  husband,  Samuel  Robinson  ; 
and  other  lands  ;  to  d.  Mary  Merwin,  whose  first  husband  was  Luke  Guire,  two  acres  in  Barlow's 
Plain,  running  down  to  the  large  pond.  He  gave  to  ss.  Samuel  &  Abraham  part  of  his  long-lot, 
&  commonage  ;  &  to  his  d.  Mary  commonage  &  part  of  his  long-lot.  All  the  rest  of  his  land,  hous- 
ing, movables  &  cattle  he  gave  to  his  wife  Mary,  while  she  remained  his  widow,  &  entailed  it  to 
his  minor  sons  Nathaniel,  John,  &  Nathan.  Mary  Adams  m.  Luke  Guire  of  F.  23  Feb.  1663,  who 
died  early  leaving  one  son  Luke,  who  was  remembered  by  his  grandfather  Edward  Adams,  in 
his  will. 

SAMUEL  i.  s.  of  Edward  Adams  i.  m.  first d.  of ,  &  had  Samuel,  b.  i.  Jan.  1677,  & 

Daniel,  17,  May  1679.  He  next  m.  Mary,  d.  of  Robert  Meeker,  15.  July  1679.  Their  children 
were  Sarah,  b.  3  Oct.  1680;  Abigail,  25.  March  1682;  Elizabeth,  3.  Feb.  1684;  Abraham,  i. 
Jan.  1685  ;  Jonathan,  Oct.  1686  ;  David,  24.  June  1689  ;  Benjamin,  28.  Dec  1690  :  John,  6  Sept 
1692. 

ABRAHAM,  s.  of  Edward  Adams  I.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  -  —  &  was  not  bapt.  until  9  Dec  1694  at 
F.  Their  children  were  Deborah  &  Hannah  bapt.  20  Jan  1694^  ;  Mary,  Abigail,  Susanna  & 
Elizabeth,  all  bapt.  24.  Feb.  I&945,  at  F. 


350  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

NATHAN  i.  s.  of  Edward  I.  m.  Mary ,  d.  of  Joseph  James,  who  was  not  bapt.  until  23  Dec 

1694  at  F.  Their  children  were  Nathan,  Nathaniel  &  Candey,  all  bapt.  23  Dec.  1694  ;  Ruth, 
bapt.  ii  Oct  1696;  Mary,  2.  Oct  1698;  Jonathan,  i.  Sept.  1700;  Avis,  29.  Nov  1702;  & 
Nathaniel  again  i  Oct  1714.  He  probably  settled  early  at  Green's  Farms,  where  his  descendants 
are  still  found. 

Nathaniel  &  John  ss.  of  Edward  Adams  i.  died  unmarried. 

DANIEL  I.  s.  of  Samuel  Adams  i.  m.  Rebecca,  d.  of .  Their  children  were  Rebecca,  bapt. 

30  Aug  1702  &  m.  Joshua  Jennings  3.  Feb  1724  ;  Samuel,  19.  March  1703*  ;  Daniel,  29.  June 
1707  ;  Sarah,  —  1711  ;  &  Elizabeth,  2.  June  1717. 

The  Adams  family  early  settled  at  Green's  Farms  and  Westport. 


ANDREWS 

ANDROS,  ANDROWS  &  ANDREWS.  FRANCIS  ANDREWS  was  in  Hartford  in  1639,  where  he  m. 
Anne  d.  of  prof.  Giles  Smith,  &  had  there  s.  John  b.  27.  Sept.  1646  ;  &  Thomas  2.  Jan.  1648.  He 
removed  to  F.  soon  after  &  became  one  of  the  Bankside  farmers,  where  his  home-lot  of  ten  acres 
lay  west  of  Daniel  Frost's.  He  made  his  will  on  6,  June  1662,  which  was  probated  5.  March 
i662aa  In  his  will  he  gave  to  his  s.  Thomas  5  acres  of  land  at  Bankside,  &  a  piece  of  land  in  his 
home-lot  to  set  a  house  upon,  a  gun-barrel  &  a  stock  ;  to  s.  John  3  acres  of  the  lower  end  of  his 
home-lot,  &  a  piece  of  land  4  rods  wide,  with  a  house  upon  it,  provided  he  allowed  his  mother  the 
use  of  another  house  as  good,  3  acres  of  meadow,  called  the  heather-bite,  &  a  gun.  To  s.  Jere- 
miah a  rapier,  a  staff  &  2os.  ;  to  s.  Abraham  2os.  ;  to  d's  Mary,  Hester,  Rebecca  &  Ruth  los.  each 
when  18  yrs.  of  age  ;  to  John  Crampton  husband  of  his  d.  Hannah  3  roods  of  land  in  his  home- 
lot  next  his  house,  provided  he  fenced  it  all  around  with  a  five  rail  fence  ;  to  granddaughter  Han- 
nah Crampton  los.  ;  to  his  wife  Anna  house,  land,  &  the  remainder  of  his  estate.  He  made  Dr. 
Thomas  Pell  overseer  of  his  estate.  Jeremiah  Andrews  lived  in  Stamford  &  d.  about  1713. 

THOMAS  I.  s.  of  Francis  Andrews  I.,  (Savage  calls  s.  of  Francis  living  at  Milford  1675-1700), 
m.  Eliza  d.  of  Robert  Porter  of  Farmington,  &  had  Hannah  &  Mary  bapt.  31.  May  1685,  &  per- 
haps a  family  of  other  children.  Savage's  Gen.  Die.  This  may  not  have  been  the  son  of  Francis 
of  F. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Francis  Andrews  I.  of  F.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Simon  Couch.  Their  children  were  John, 
b.  24.  Oct.  1679  &  Sarah,  12.  Jan.  1680,  &  d.  in  1683.  F.  T.  Rec.  He  with  Simon  Couch,  who 
in.  his  sister  Mary  Andrews,  purchased  of  the  other  heirs,  &  of  their  mother  the  long-lot  & 
other  lands  of  Francis  Andrews  i.  at  Fairfield.  He  was  deeded  several  parcels  of  land  by  his 
father  at  Bankside,  &  owned  a  considerable  land  at  Turkey-hill.  In  the  distribution  of  his  estate 
in  1733  w.  Sarah  is  mentioned  ;  d.  Abigail  w.  of  William  Edwards  ;  d.  Hannah  w.  of  Samuel 

Osborn  ;  d.  w.  Thomas  Couch  ;  d.  Isabel  w.  Robert  Rumsey  &  d.  Deborah  w.  of  Jacob 

P.  Jones. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Andrews  i.  m.  -  —  d.  of &  was  not  bapt.  until  27.  June  1708, 

at  which  time  his  s.  John  was  baptized.  His  d.  Abigail  was  bapt.  14.  Aug.  1709  ;  Eleanor,  14. 
Nov.  1711  ;  Daniel,  13.  June  1714  &  d.  1728.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

JOHN  3.  s.  of  John  Andrews  2.  m.  Sarah,  d.  of  Simon  Couch  28.  Oct.  1730  &  settled  at  Bank- 
side.  Their  children  were  Sarah,  b.  6.  Aug.  1731  ;  John,  17.  March  1734  ;  Abraham,  23.  Aug. 
1735  ;  Abigail,  13.  Dec.  1736  ;  Ellinor,  4.  Aug.  1738  ;  Samuel,  23.  Feb.  1740;  Isabel,  20.  Sept. 
1742  ;  Simon,  Deborah,  &  Hannah  28.  Oct.  1744. 

ABRAHAM  s.  of  Francis  Andrews  I.  lived  in  Danbury  where  he  died  in  1735. 

It  appears  that  the  Andrew's  family  of  Bankside  or  Green's,  Farms  trace  their  descent  from 
Francis  i.  through  his  son  John.  Among  the  distinguished  descendants  of  this  family  was  Judge 
Andrews  of  Ohio,  whose  monument  rests  over  his  grave  in  the  cemetery  at  Green's  Farms. 


GENEALOGIES  351 

BANKS 

JOHN  BANKS  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Windsor,  Conn.,  &  was  a  lawyer  by  profession.  In 
1643  he  was  appointed  town  clerk,  &  also  "  to  size  the  weights  &  measures  of  the  several  towns  in 
the  colony."  He  settled  at  F.  soon  after,  &  was  granted  a  home-lot  by  the  town  ;  but  on  the  12. 
of  Jan.  1649,  he  purchased  Daniel  Frost's  house  &  home-lot  of  3^  acres  on  the  Frost  Square. 
When  Rye  fell  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Connecticut,  he,  with  his  sons  were  among  the  first  land- 
holders of  that  town  ;  which  he  represented  from  1670  to  1673.  He  soon  returned  to  F.,  £  was 
prominent  in  all  the  exciting  events  of  that  period.  He  was  one  of  the  richest  men  in  F.  &  one  of 
the  largest  land  holders  in  F.  Co.  It  is  to  be  greatly  regretted  that  so  little  is  known  of  his  early 
history  ;  but  that  he  was  from  one  of  the  best  families  of  England  there  is  no  doubt. 

Savage  states  that  "by  tradition  his  first  wife  was  a  d.  of  Charles  Tainter  of  Weathersfield,'' 
who  also  afterwards  resided  at  F.  (where  his  will  is  probated  &  dated  20.  Oct.  1658,)  &  had  one 
child  at  Windsor.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Fitch  wid.  of  Thomas  Sherwood  I  of  F.  His  will 
is  dated  12.  Jan.  1685,  about  which  time  he  died.  He  gave  his  wife  Mary  the  use  of  his  house  & 
home-lot,  30  acres  on  the  front  of  his  long-lot  ;  several  other  pieces  of  land  ;  40^.  out  of  liis  house- 
hold goods  &  chattels  ;  the  use  of  his  silver  tankard  &  of  two  Indian  boys,  one  negro  woman,  & 
two  cows.  He  gave  to  his  son  John  Banks  150  acres  at  Byram  River,  30  acres  in  the  plain  of  same 
place  above  the  main  road  ;  40  or  50  acres  at  Horseneck,  &  the  Island  called  Calves'  Island  "  lying 
before  said  neck."  To  s.  Obediah,  all  land  above  Pine  Creek  at  F.  &  several  other  parcels  of  land. 
To  s.  Benjamin  his  pasture-lot  &  building-lot,  &  land  at  the  Rocks  purchased  of  Thomas  Lyon  ; 
two  miles  of  his  long-lot  in  the  rear  of  that  given  to  his  wife,  "  he  allowing  proper  high  ways  ;  half 
of  his  Perpetual  Common  ;  dividends  at  Compo,  &  160  acres  purchased  of  Blackley  &  Brandford. 
To  his  grandson,  s.  of  his  s.  John,  he  gave  all  the  land  he  left  for  the  use  of  his  wife  after  her  death  ; 
the  other  half  of  his  long-lot  ;  one  half  of  his  Perpetual  Common,  and  his  silver  tankard,  after  his 
wife's  death.  To  his  d.  Susanna,  wife  of  Jonathan  Sturgis  i.  2Os.  &  to  her  s.  John  Sturgis  when  of 
aSe  *°£'  T°  grandson,  Benjamin  s.  of  his  s.  Benjamin  10^.,  when  of  age.  To  his  d.  Hannah,  wife 
of  Daniel  Burr  of  Upper  Meadow  5^.,  &  to  his  son  in-law  Daniel  Burr,  a  meadow  between  the 
Old  Field  &  Pine  Creek.  To  d.  Mary  w.  of  John  Taylor  2Os.  To  sons  John,  Obediah  &  Ben- 
jamin Banks,  as  executors,  he  left  all  remaining  undisposed  of  estate,  who  were  to  cover  out  of  the 
estate,  the  foreside  of  his  dwelling  house  &  barn  with  shingles  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  his 
decease.  To  his  step-son  Mathew  Sherwood,  he  gave  a  lot  in  the  Old  Indian  Field,  for  work  to 
be  done  about  his  house,  which  they  had  formerly  agreed  upon.  He  had  a  s.  Joseph,  who  died 
Oct.  1682. 

SERGT.  JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Banks  i.  m.  Abigail  d.  of ,  &  settled  at  Greenwich,  &  d.  1699. 

Of  him  I  know  no  more. 

BENJAMIN,  s.  of  John  Banks  i.  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Richard  Lyon  i.,  29.  Jan.  1679,  &  had 
Benjamin  b.  30,  Oct.  1682  ;  Elizabeth  26.  Nov.  1685  ;  &  probably  other  children.  He  died 
about  1692,  &  his  widow  m.  W™  Rowlson. 

OBEDIAH,  s.  of  John  Banks  i.  d.  unmarried  about  1691.  In  his  will  he  mentions  cousin 
Joseph,  s.  of  his  bro.  John  ;  sister  Mary  Taylor  ;  bro.  Benjamin, 'bro.  Samuel  &  sister  Rebecca 
Wheeler,  d.  of  Sergt.  John  Wheeler. 

BENJAMIN,  s.  of  Benjamin  Banks  2.  b.  Nov.  1681,  (probably  a  mistake  for  30.  Oct.  1682.) 
covenanted  &  bapt.  5.  June  1726.  Ruth,  wife  of  Benjamin  Banks,  b.  18.  May  1683,  bapt.  in 
infancy.  Their  children  were  Benjamin,  b.  8,  Aug.  1706  ;  Thomas,  13.  Nov.  1707  ;  John,  8. 
Sept.  1710,  &  died  about  four  years  of  age  ;  Gershom,  i.  May  1712  ;  Johanna,  28.  Feb.  I7I4LI>  ; 
John,  7.  Nov.  1717  ;  David,  22.  April  1718  ;  Nehemiah,  27.  April  1720,  &  died  in  infancy  ; 
Mary,  18.  March  I72I22.  His  first  wife  died,  &  he  m.  the  wid.  Sarah  Hull,  &  had  son  Eliph- 
alet  b.  25.  July  1740. 

JOSEPH,  s.  of  John  Banks  2.  b.  29.  Dec  1691,  &  bapt.  13.  April  1712.      He  m.  Mary b.  8 


352  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Jan.  1693.     Their  children  were  Joseph,  b.   12.   April ;  Sarah,    i.  Feb.   1715-^  ;    David,  22. 

April ;  &  Mindwell,  6.  Oct  1720  ;  Nehemiah,  28.  Feb.  1722  ;  Ebenezer,  9.  Dec  1724  ;  Mary, 

19,  July  1731. 

BARLOW 

JOHN  BARLOW  i.  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  F.  He  owned  the  lot  next  S.  W.  of  Roger 
Ludlow,  on  the  Ludlow  Square.  He  sold  this  place  to  Thomas  Morehouse  before  1653.  &  set- 
tled on  the  beautiful  plain,  running  northwest  of  the  Ludlow  Square  &  Concord  Field,  which  in 
honor  of  his  name  was  called  Barlow's  Plain.  He  was  possessed  of  a  large  estate.  His  will  is 
dated  28.  March  1674,  in  which  he  mentions  w.  Ann,  &  children  John  ;  Isabella  w.  of  Peter  Clap- 
ham  ;  Ruth,  w.  of  Francis  Bradley  ;  Elizabeth  w.  of  Daniel  Frost  ;  Martha  w.  of  James  Beers  I.  & 
Deborah  w.  of  John  Sturgis. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Barlow  i.  m.  Abigail,  d.  of  Robert  Lockwood.  Their  children  were  : 
John,  Joseph,  Samuel,  Abigail,  Deborah,  Elizabeth  &  Ruth.  Elizabeth  was  b.  n.  May  1677. 
(F.  T.  Rec.)  Abigail,  m.  Jonathan  Rowland  28.  Jan.  1690.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  was 
taken  6.  March  iGgo1'1.  F.  T.  Rec. 

JOHN  3.  s.  of  John  Barlow  2.  renewed  the  Church  Covenant  at  F.  on  the  24.  of  Feb.  1694^. 
His  s.  John  was  bapt.  at  the  same  time  ;  Samuel,  bapt.  26.  April  1696  ;  Abigail,  5.  Sept.  1697. 
Ann,  19.  Nov.  1699  ;  Joseph,  18.  May  1701  ;  Francis,  16.  Aug.  1702  ;  Sarah,  5.  March  1703*  ; 
Deborah,  3,  March  1705^,  at  which  time  the  father  was  called  Lieut.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

SAMUEL  I.  s.  of  John  Barlow  3.    m.  —  —  d.    of their  children   were  :  Gershom,  bapt.  17 

Feb.  1705^  ;  Samuel,  16.  March  ijo6~L  ;  Gershom,  19,  Dec.  1708  ;  Samuel,  22  :  Jan  I7O91'1  ; 
Daniel,  28,  Oct.  1711,  at  which  time  the  father  was  called  Serg*  ;  Elizabeth,  20,  June  1714; 
Abigail,  5,  Aug.  1716  ;  Mary,  2.  Nov.  1718.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

SAMUEL  2.  s.  of  Samuel  Barlow  i  m.  Eunice,  d.  of  Daniel  Bradley  12,  Aug.  1731,  &  lived  at 
Redding.  Their  children  were  :  Daniel,  b.  24  Nov.  1734  ;  Ruhamah,  22,  Jan.  1737  ;  James,  29, 
Jan.  1739  ;  Jabez,  21,  March  1742. 

Samuel  Barlow  2,  again  m.  second  wife,  Esther,  d.  of  Nathaniel  Hull,  7.  Aug.  1744  ;  Their 
children  were  Nathaniel,  b.  13,  May  1745  ;  Aaron,  II,  Feb.  1750  ;  Samuel,  3.  April  1752;  &  Joel, 
24.  March,  1754.  The  father  died  20.  Dec.  1773. 

JOEL  s.  of  Samuel  Barlow  2  ;  born  at  Redding  24  March  1754,  first  entered  Dartmouth 
College  in  1774  or  5  ;  but  graduated  with  high  honors  at  Yale  in  1778,  in  the  class  with  Hon. 
Zepheniah  Swift  ;  Uriah  Tracy  ;  Noah  Webster  ;  Oliver  &  Alexander  Wolcott,  &  other  distin- 
guished men,  at  which  time  he  delivered  a  creditable  poem  entitled,  "The  Prospect  of  Peace." 
He  early  showed  talent  of  a  superior  quality,  &  became  a  marked  favorite  with  Dr.  Trumbull  & 
Dr.  Dwight.  He  was  an  intimate  college  friend  of  Thomas  Paine,  who  probably  had  not  at  that 
time  become  imbued  with  French  infidelity.  He  studied  law,  &  divinity  for  a  short  time,  &  after 
being  licensed  as  a  Congregational  minister,  he  became  a  Chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1783  he  opened  a  law  office  at  Hartford,  &  upon  Elisha  Babcock 
removing  his  printing  press  from  Springfield  to  Hartford,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  him  in 
editing  "The  American  Mercury."  In  1785  he  was  chosen  by  the  General  Association  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  to  revise  the  Psalms  of  Dr  Watts.  In  1787  he  published  his  ''  Vision  of 
Columbus  ;  "  but  his  popular  poem  entitled  "  Hasty  Pudding,"  written  in  France  in  1793,  exhib- 
ited a  more  decided  poetical  talent.  In  1788  he  went  to  England,  as  agent  for  the  "  Sciota  Land 
Company,"  &  then  to  France,  where  he  became  interested  in  the  politics  of  the  country,  &,  giving 
up  his  agency,  joined  the  Girondists.  In  1791  he  returned  to  England,  &  there  causing  offence  by 
his  publications,  he  returned  to  France  in  1792.  In  1795  he  was  appointed  by  General  Washington 
Consul  to  Algiers,  where  he  effected  a  treaty  which  liberated  Americans  held  as  slaves  by  the  Dey. 
He  also  succeeded  in  a  treaty  at  Tripoli,  by  which  the  American  prisoners  there  were  redeemed: 
In  1797  he  returned  to  Paris,  &  in  1805  to  the  United  States,  &  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  George- 


GENEALOGIES  353 

town.  In  1808  he  published  the  great  poem  of  his  life  "  The  Columbiad  ;  "  which  was  repub- 
lished  in  1811  in  London.  He  was  diligently  engaged  in  writing  a  history  of  the  United  States  in 
1812,  when  he  was  appointed  by  General  Washington  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  France. 
Unfortunately,  while  on  his  way  to  Wilna  to  confer  with  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  he  contracted  a 
severe  cold,  &  died  from  inflammation  of  the  lungs  at  Zarwanica,  a  small  village  in  Poland,  2.  Oct. 
1812.  He  m.  Ruth,  a  d.  of  Michael  Baldwin  of  New  Haven,  who  with  her  sister  Clarissa 
accompanied  her  husband  to  France.  Clarissa  m.  Col.  Bomford  of  the  U.  S.  Army.  Both  ladies 
were  sisters  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Baldwin  of  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  &  probably  half  sisters  of  the  Hon. 
Abraham  Baldwin  of  Georgia.  Hinman's  Puritan  Settlers,  Vol.  i.  pp.  113,  131. 

Thomas  Barlow  early  settled  at  F..  &  was  probably  a  near  kinsman  of  John  Barlow  I.  He 
was  granted  from  the  town  six  acres  of  land  on  the  n.  w.  of  the  school  &  church  land  on  the  n.  w. 
corner  of  the  Frost  Square,  which  was  recorded  3,  Dec.  1653.  His  will  is  dated  8,  Sept.  1658,  in 
which  he  mentions  wife  Rose  &  their  children  Phebe,  Deborah  &  Mary.  He  appointed  Dr. 
Thomas  Pell  overseer  of  his  children  &  estate.  He  was  a  large  land  holder  in  F  ,  &  his  surviving 
children  Phebe  &  Deborah,  were  granted  the  various  land  dividends  made  by  the  town  after  his 
death.  His  d.  Mary,  probably  died  before  him,  or  about  the  same  time,  as  no  mention  is  made 
of  her  in  the  distribution  of  his  estate.  I  have  seen  mention  of  a  s.  Thomas,  who  must  have  died 
before  his  father.  His  wife  Rose  was  probably  the  widow  of  Thomas  Rumbell  of  Stratford, 
Conn.,  who  came  to  N.  E.  in  the  ship  True  Love  in  1635  aged  22,  &  served  in  the  Pequot  War. 
Mrs.  Rose  Barlow,  the  widow,  m.  Edward  Nash  of  Norwalk.  Phebe  Barlow  m.  Francis  Olm- 
stead  of  Norwalk  Ct.  Deborah  Barlow  m.  John  Burritt  of  Stratford  Ct.  Francis  Olmstead  & 
John  Burritt  on  the  2,  Sept.  1700,  in  right  of  their  wives,  sold  the  Barlow  six  acre  lot,  in  the  rear 
of  the  meeting-house,  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Webb  for  30^. 

BARTRAM 

JOHN  BARTRAM  settled  at  F.  &  m.  Sarah  d.  of .     Their  children  were  John  b.   23.  Feb. 

1690'--'  ;  a  child  not  named  10.  May  1692  ;  John  again  9.  Jan  1693*;  Joseph,  8,  Aug.  1696.  [F. 
T.  Rec.]  Sarah,  bapt.  23.  Dec.  1694  ;  Ebenezer,  30.  April  1699  ;  David,  13.  Dec.  1702  ;  &  Sarah, 
7.  May  1704.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Bartram  i.  settled  at  Greenfield  &  m.  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Francis  Bradley 
2.  Their  children  were,  Sarah,  b.  14.  May  1719.  and  perhaps  others. 

EBENEZER  s.  of  John  Bartram  i.  m.  Elizabeth,  d.  of .     Their  children  were  Hannah,  bapt. 

4.  July  1731 ;  Ebenezer,  18.  June  1732  ;  Job,  30.  March  1735  I  Eulalia,  3.  July  1737  ;  Barnabas, 
30.  Sept.  1739.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

DAVID  I.  s.  of  John  Bartram  I.  m.  Mehitabel,    d.  of  .      Their  children  were  John,  bapt. 

24.  Oct.  1731  ;  Hannah,  25.  Nov.  1733  ;  David,  25.  May  1735  ;  Paul,  17.  Oct.  1736  ;  James,  23. 
April  1738  ;  Isaac,  25.  Jan.  1740^  ;  Elizabeth  &  Sarah  II.  Sept.  1743  ;  David  again,  27.  Oct.  1745. 
F.  Par.  Rec. 

The  Bartram  family  are  represented  by  the  family  of  the  late  Captain  Joseph  Bartram  of 
Black  Rock. 

BEERS 

JAMES  BEERS  i.  was  an  early  settler  at  Sasquag,  now  Southport,  where  he  was  presented  with 
8  acres  of  land  from  the  Indians,  which,  by  tradition  is  located,  where  the  Congregational  church 
now  stands.  In  1669  he  recorded  18  acres  on  the  west  side  of  Sasco  River,  which  was  confirmed 
to  him  by  the  town  10.  Feb.  1661.  Cothren  of  Woodbury  makes  him  a  son  of  Capt.  Richard  Beers 
of  Watertown,  a  Pequot  soldier,  but  Savage  thinks  this  a  mistake,  &  that  he  may  have  been  a 
brother.  He  became  one  of  the  largest  land-holders  in  F.,  sharing  in  all  the  dividends  of  the 
township.  He  m.  Martha;  d.  of  John  Barlow  i.,  by  whom  lie  had  several  children.  In  his  will 
dated  14.  Nov  1694,  he  provides  for  his  w.  Martha,  &  gives  to  his  s.  Joseph  all  the  rest  of  his 

23 


354  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

estate,  provided  he  paid  the  following  legacies  ;  viz  :  an  annual,  stipulated  support  to  his  mother. 
Martha  ;  to  d.  Martha,  w.  of  Joseph  Bulkley,  who  had  had  a  larger  marriage  dower  than  her 
sisters  15^" ;  to  d.  Deborah,  w.  of  Samuel  Hull,  23^"  ;  to  d.  Elizabeth,  w.  of  John  Darling,  23^. 
He  confirmed  to  the  children  of  his  deceased  s.  James,  lands  he  had  deeded  their  father  ;  &  to  his 
eldest  grandson  David  Beers,  his  wolve's  swamp  &  Paul's  Neck  division. 

JAMES  2.  s.  of  James  Beers  I.  was  for  a  time  at  Pequonnock,  where  he  purchased  12.  Sept 
1660,  of  Andrew  Ward,  James  Evarts'  house  &  home-lot,  lying  between  the  home-lots  of  Joseph 
Middlebrook,  &  Thomas  Wheeler  sr.  He  lived  for  a  time  at  Woodbury,  but  was  again  in  F., 

where  in  1684,  he  purchased  land  at  Sasco  Hill  of  John  Osborn.  He  m.  d.  of  Capt.  Richard 

Osborn.  His  children  were  Sarah,  b.  8.  May  1673  ;  James,  28.  June  1677  ;  &  Joseph,  ir.  July  1679, 
David  &  Mary.  He  died  in  1691,  leaving  a  handsome  estate. 

JOSEPH  i  s.  of  James  Beers  i.  m.  Abigail,  d.  of  .  Their  children  were  Joseph,  b.  13. 

March  1688?  ;  Abigail,  24.  April  1692  ;  James  &  probably  others.  He  died  in  1697,  leaving  a 
good  estate. 

BRADLEY 

The  first  of  this  name  in  F.  was  FRANCIS  BRADLEY,  who  resided  in  Branford  in  1657,  and 
came  to  F.  in  1660.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  New  Haven  records  as  early  as  1650,  and  was  then  a 
member  of  the  family  of  Governor  Theophilus  Eaton,  probably  articled  to  him,  as  was  the  custom 
of  those  times,  when  it  was  desired  to  have  a  young  man  brought  up  to  a  particular  business,  or 
under  the  auspices  of  a  particular  person.  If  conjecture  is  right  as  to  his  parentage,  his  father 
and  Eaton  were  school-mates,  and  nearly  of  the  same  age.  He  had  an  only  brother,  John  Bradley 
of  London,  who  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  March  1697.  There  is  much  reason  to  believe  that 
they  were  sons  of  Francis  Bradley  Junior  of  the  city  of  Coventry,  who  was  born  in  1595,  &  was 
son  &  heir  of  Francis  Bradley  Senior.  Theophilus  Eaton  was  born  in  Coventry  in  1592,  his 
father  being  minister  of  one  of  the  Churches  of  that  city  ;  and  Rev.  John  Davenport,  co-leader  with 
Eaton  of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  was  born  in  the  same  city  in  1597.  As  they  all  belonged  to 
Puritan  families,  there  is  little  doubt  that  Francis  Bradley  Junior,  whose  father  was  a  man  of 
respectability,  (entitled  to  his  "  coat  of  arms"),  was  on  intimate  terms  with  both  of  these  eminent 
men  ;  and  when,  as  happened  in  course  of  time,  Eaton  became  a  prominent  merchant,  and  Daven- 
port a  popular  preacher,  in  London,  it  is  quite  natural  that  Francis  Bradley  Junior  should  place 
his  sons  under  their  auspices  in  the  great  city,  and  entrust  his  younger  son,  Francis,  to  the  personal 
care  of  his  friend  Eaton. 

Francis  Bradley  Junior  had  an  uncle  in  Coventry,  named  William  Bradley,  a  younger  brother 
of  his  father,  conjectured  to  have  been  the  father  of  William  Bradley,  who  came  to  this  country 
and  settled  at  New  Haven  (or  North  Haven)  in  1644,  taking  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  August  of  that 
year  ;  and  whose  step-mother,  with  her  family  of  small  children,  Ellen,  Daniel,  Joshua,  Nathan 
&  Stephen  Bradley,  came  over  a  year  or  two  later,  and  became  the  ancestors  of  a  numerous 
progeny,  who  look  back  to  New  Haven  £  Guilford  as  the  places  of  their  family  origin.* 

If  Francis  Bradley  came,  from  England  with  Governor  Eaton  in  1637,  he  could  have  been  but 
a  mere  lad.  It  is  possible  that  he  came  over  with  his  cousin  William  in  164-),  and  was  commended 

*  A  pedigree  and  arms  of  the  Bradley  family  of  Coventry  are  recorded  in  Camden's  "  Visitation  of  the 
County  of  Warwick  in  1619,''  published  in  Vol.  XII  of  the  Harleian  Society  publications.  The  pedigree  embraces, 
i.  WILLIAM  BRADLEY  cf  Sheriff -Hutton,  county  of  York  (who  must  have  lived  in  Henry  VIII's  time):  2.  WILLIAM 
BRADLEY  son  of  the  preceding,  of  the  city  of  Coventry,  Co.  of  Warwick  :  3,4,5,  were  FRANCIS,  THOMAS  and  WIL- 
i  IA.M,  the  three  sons  of  the  litter,  who  were  born 'in  Elizabeth's  reign  :  6.  Francis  Bradley  Junior,  son  &  heir  of 
the  preceding  Francis,  24  years  of  age  in  1613  when  the  visitation  was  made.  His  uncle  William  had  at  that  time 
four  daughters,  and  an  infant  son  not  yet  named.  The  Bradley  family  of  Yorkshire,  of  which  this  was  a  branch, 
may  bo  traced  back  to  a  remote  period.  A  Sir  Francis  Bradky  flourished  there  in  Edward  IIFs  time.  (Harl.  Soc. 
Pub.  XVI.  147.) 


GENEALOGIES  355 

to  Eaton's  care  by  his  father.  In  Governor  Eaton's  house  he  had  the  highest  religious  and  intel- 
lectual advantages.  Cotton  Mather  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  manner  of  life  pursued  in 
the  Governor's  establishment.  Sometimes  as  many  as  thirty  members  of  his  own  household  sat 
down  at  his  table,  and  he  was  in  the  habit  of  administering  to  them  wise  and  godly  discourse.* 
The  influence  of  his  high  character  and  example,  must  have  been  very  great  with  the  young  men 
under  his  charge.  Francis  Bradley  seems  to  have  profited  by  these  advantages.  All  that  we  hear 
of  him  in  the  scanty  notices  that  are  preserved,  are  to  his  credit.  lie  was  evidently  a  young  man 
of  respectability  when  he  settled  at  Fairfield.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  married  Ruth  Barlow,  a 
daughter  of  John  Barlow,  and  thus  became  connected  with  some  of  the  principal  families  of  the 
place.  Being  admitted  a  freeholder  of  the  town,  he  became  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  a  settler, 
including  a  participation  in  the  dividends  of  the  town  lands.  In  October  1664,  at  a  General 
Assembly  at  Hartford,  he  (with  others)  was  accepted  as  a  freeman  of  Fairfield  under  the  govern- 
ment of  Connecticut,  before  the  Colony  of  New  Haven  had  accepted  the  charter.  In  March  1666 
he  purchased  the  house  and  homestead  lot  of  William  Hayden  in  the  town  plot  of  Fairfield,  con- 
sisting of  2J-  acres  of  land. 

Francis  Bradley  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom,  as  well  as  his 
wife,  survived  him.  Their  names  and  the  approximate  dates  of  their  birth,  are  as  follows  :  i.  Ruth, 
b.  1662;  2.  John,  1664;  3.  Abigail,  1667;  4.  Francis,  1670;  5.  Daniel,  1673;  6.  Joseph,  1676; 
7.  Mary,  Dec.  5,  1679,  the  record  of  her  birth  being  preserved.  Francis  Bradley  d.  in  October, 
1689,  leaving  a  will  dated  22nd  of  January  preceding.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  amounted  to 
^648,  exclusive  of  the  portion  set  off  to  his  eldest  son,  John,  shortly  before  his  death. 

His  descendants  are  numerous,  and  to  be  found  in  many  of  the  Northern  States  ;  but  the  first 
three  or  four  generations  continued  to  reside  in  Fairfield  and  its  vicinity,  particularly  in  and  about 
Greenfield  Hill,  partly  on.  the  "long  lot"  assigned  to  him,  &  other  purchases  and  called  the 
Bradley  lands,  which  extended  across  the  Aspetuck  river  north  of  Saugatuck.  He  left  all  his  sons 
homesteads,  besides  their  shares  in  his  common  lands,  subject  to  legacies  to  his'daughters.  John, 
the  eldest,  had  a  homestead  lot  given  to  him  at  Greenfield  ;  others,  in  Fairfield  village.  The 
eldest  daughter,  Ruth,  married  Thomas  Williams.  Abigail  remained  unmarried.  Whether  Mary 
married  is  not  known. 

The  descendants  of  Francis  Bradley,  in  the  second  and  third  generations,  living  in  and  about 
Greenfield  during  the  last  century,  were  a  highly  respectable  and  worthy  class  of  people,  some  of 
them  occupying  positions  of  official  trust  and  influence.  They  were  the  people  amongst  whom 
President  Dwight  spent  those  pleasant  years  of  his  ministerial  life  from  1783  to  1795,  when  he  wrote 
his  pastoral  poem  of  "Greenfield  Hill."  His  "female  worthy,"  Mrs.  Eleanor  Sherwood,  was  a 
daughter  of  Francis  Bradley,  the  second,  and  his  congregation  included  a  large  number  of  families 
of  that  name. 

The  following  letter,  written  by  John  Bradley  of  London,  to  his  brother  Francis,  in  1696, 
(in  ignorance  of  his  brother's  death)  illustrates  the  infrequency  of  communication  with  the  mother 
country  in  those  early  times,  and  the  already  close  connection  between  New  York  and  the  towns 
along  the-  Sound. 

'•  These  for  his  very  loving  Brother,  Francis  Bradley  of  Fairfield  in  New  England. 

"  Dear  Brother  :  It  is  now  10  years  since  I  received  a  letter  from  you,  tho'  I  have  seen  several 
seamen  since,  but  no  one  could  tell  me  whether  you  are  in  the  land  of  the  living  as  I  am,  which 
blessed  be  ye  Almighty,  tho  in  ye  74th  (or  77)  year  of  my  age  ;  and  I  begin  to  think  I  can  by  no 
means  live  long  ;  which  puts  me  in  mind  of  settling  ye  small  estate  I  have,  &  I  have  no  children 
of  my  own,  neither  any  relation  nighe  so  near  and  dear  to  me  as  yourself  and  your  children. 
Therefore,  dear  brother,  I  do  heartily  wish  and  desire  y*  you  were  here  yourself  or  if  it  were 
possible  yl  I  might  have  ye  happiness  to  see  you  before  I  die,  which  would  be  the  greatest 

*  Magnalia,  Book  II.  c.  IX.  sect.  VII. 


356  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

satisfaction  to  me  in  the  world  :  but  if  that  cannot  be,  then  I  should  be  glad  if  you  have  any  one 
of  your  sons  that  is  a  sprightly  boy  and  about  the  age  of  16  or  17  years,  that  hath  been  pretty 
well  bred,  to  bind  him  over  to  me,  and  I  will  take  care  of  him.  If  this  come  to  hand,  be  sure 
to  let  me  hear  from  you.  I  send  it  on  adventure  according  to  your  last  directions,  to  Mr.  \Villscm 
of  New  York.  You  may  direct  to  me  at  my  house  in  Red  Lyon  Street,  near  the  Cross-Keys  in 
Holborn.  This  is  all  at  present,  but  to  let  you  know,  that  I  am  dear  sir,  your  most  affectionate 
brother.  John  Bradley. 

"  London,  January  24,  1695  (1696)." 

The  writer  of  this  letter  died  about  a  year  after  its  date,  and  probably  not  receiving  any  word 
from  his  brother's  family,  bequeathed  all  his  property,  a  few  days  before  his  death,  to  his  wife 
Elizabeth. 

GENEALOGICAL  RECORD 

1.  JOHN  BRADLEY,  eldest  son  of  Francis  and   Ruth,   married  Hannah  Sherwood  ;  and  died 
in  1703,  leaving  his  wife  (who  afterwards  married  Cornelius  Jones  of  Stamford),  and  the  following 
children  :    i.    John,    born    about   1693  ;    2   Abigail,    1695  ;    3    Elizabeth,     1697  ;    4,    Ruth,    1699  ; 
5  Joseph,   1701  ;    6  Hannah,  1703.     Of  these,  i  John,   married    Martha   Darling  and  died   1773, 
upwards  of  80.     Whether  he  had  children  is  not  known.      5,  Joseph,  married  Olive  Hubbell  June 
20,  1/24.  clau.  of  Samuel  Hubbell,  Jr.  and  died  March  i,  1770.     His  children  were,  i  Thaddeus, 
b.  1727  ;  2  Onesimus,  1/30;  3.  Eunice,  1733  ;  4.  Ruth,  1735  ;  5  Martha,  1737  ;  6  Nathan.  1740; 
7  Isaac,  1743  ;   8  Joseph,  1746  ;   9  Benjamin,  1749.      Thaddeus  and  Isaac  died  young.      Onesimus 
removed  to  Western   New   York.      Joseph   m.  Martha  Bates   &  removed   to  Albany  County  N.  Y. 
1791,  and  had  three  sons,  Isaac,  Joseph   &   Daniel.      The  last  Joseph  m.  Mary  Wheeler  &  had  a 
son  Philo,  father  of  Hon.  Joseph  P.  Bradley,  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 
Isaac  and  Daniel  removed  to  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.  about  1800,  and  lived  to  great  age. 

II.  FRANCIS  BRADLEY,  second  son  of  Francis  and  Ruth,  married  Sarah  Jackson  ;  and  died 
Dec.,  1716,  leaving  his  wife  and  the  following  children  :  I  Francis,  b.  1699;  2  Samuel,  1701  ; 
3  Ephraim,  1703  ;  4  John,  Jr.,  1705  ;  5  Eleanor,  1708  ;  6  Peter,  1710;  7  Gershom,  1712. 

Of  these,  I,  Francis  in.  Mary  Sturgis  dau.  of  John  Sturgis,  1719,  and  had  ten  children,  Mary, 
born  1719;  Elizabeth,  1721;  Ebenezer,  1723;  Eleanor,  1725;  Francis,  1728;  Elnathan,  1730; 
Jane,  1733  ;  Hesther,  1735  ;  Abigail  and  Nehemiah  (twins)  1737. 

2.  Samuel  married  Sarah  Whelpley,  1724,  &  died   1772.      He    had    the   following   children  : 
Sarah,  born   1726;    Mabel,    1729;    Samuel,    1734;    Hezekiah,    1735;     Huldah,    1741.     The  last 
Samuel  married  Sarah  Wakeman,  1751,  &  had  Zalmon,  born   1752  ;   Samuel,  1756  ;   Walter,  1764  ; 
and    several    daughters.       Hezekiah    m.    Abigail    Sherwood,    1756,    &    had    Hezekiah   Jr.    1757; 
Medad,  1761  ;  Aaron  Burr,  1764  ;  &  daughters. 

4.  John  Bradley  Jr.   m.    Sarah   Gilbert,    1725,   and    had    Hannah,  born    1726;    Lois,    1729; 
John,  1731  ;  Reuben,  1733  ;  Seth,  1735  ;   Miriam,  1737  ;  Enos,  1739  !  Lockwood,  1742  ;  Ephraim, 
1744  ;  Moses,  1746  ;  Abel,   1750.      Of  these,  Seth    Bradley,  esquire,  resided  in  Greenfield,  where 
he  died  in  1798.     Amongst  other  sons  he  (Seth)   had   Hull,  born  1770,  and  Alton,  b.  1778.      Hull 
Bradley,  esquire,  resided  in  Greenfield  and  died  there  in  1850.     Alton  removed  to  Roxbury,  Litch- 
field  Co.  Conn,  and  died   1838.     Eli  N.  Bradley  and  other  sons  &  descendants  of  Alton,  reside  in 
Roxbury,    others   in    Chatham,   New-York,    William    in    Brooklyn,    &    Frederick    (now   deceased) 
removed  to  New  Haven. 

5.  Eleanor  married  Benjamin  Sherwood  of  Greenfield. 

6.  Peter   Bradley   m.    Damaris  Demon,    1735,   and    had    Hannah,    1736;  Grace,    1738;   Gris- 
well.    1739;  Aaron,    1741;   Ruami,    1743;    Jane,    1745;   Damaris,    1746;   Peter,    1748;    William, 
1750. 

7.  Gershom  Bradley   m.    I    Sarah    Sherwood,    2nd    Elizabeth    Osborn,   3rd   Jane  Dimon,   4th 
Elizabeth  Burr.     By  Elizabeth  Osborn  he  had  Sarah,  b.  1739  !  by  Jane  Dimon,  Gershom  b.  1742  ; 


GENEALOGIES  357 

Sarah,    1745  ;  Gershom ;  Jane,    1747  ;  Jonathan,  1749  ;  Dimon,    1752  ;  Andrew,    1754  I  by 

Elizabeth  Burr,  Deborah  b.  1757  ;  Molly  Burr,  1766  ;  Gershom,  1768. 

III.  DANIEL  BRADLEY,  third  son  of  Francis  and  Ruth,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Jackson,  and  died  1714      lie  had  children  ;  i   Daniel,  bap.  1699,  who  died  young  ;  2  Mary,  1701, 
also  died  young  ;  3  Martha,  1702  ;  4  Daniel  Jr.  1704  ;  5  Abigail,  1706  ;  6  Eunice,  1708  ;  7  Mary, 
1710  ;  8  James,   1712.  Daniel  Jr.,  called  Captain  Daniel,  m.  Esther  Burr,  1724,  and  had  Abigail, 
born  1725  ;  Jabez,  1727  ;  Daniel,  1729  ;  Esther,  1733  ;  Stephen,  1734  ;  Philip  Burr,  1738  ;  Elizabeth, 
1741.    By  a  second  wife,  Mary  Fitch,  he  had  Ruhamah,  born  1745.    By  a  third  wife,  Sarah  Bradley, 
he  had  Eunice,  b.  1752.     In  1759,  Capt.  Daniel  Bradley,  with  his  family,  removed  to  Ridgefield, 
Fairfield  Co.  where  he  died  April  23rd  1765.     His  son,  Philip  Burr  Bradley,  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in    1758,  was  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  the  first  marshal  of  the  United  States  for 
Connecticut,  and  a  prominent  man  of  that  State.     He  died  in  1821.     By  his  first  wife,  Mary  Bost- 
wick,  he  had  two  children,  Mary,  born  1766,  and  Jabez,  1768  ;  by  his  second  wife,  Ruth  Smith, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Smith  Esq.  of  Ridgefield,  he  had  Philip,  b.  1770  ;  Ruth,  1771  ;  Esther,  1773  ; 
Betsey,  1775;  Sally,  1780;  Jesse    Smith,  1782.     The   youngest  of   these,  Jesse    Smith    Bradley, 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1800,  studied  law  at  Litchtield,  was  several  times  elected  to  the  leg- 
islature from  Ridgefield,  and  judge  of  Fairfield  Co.     He  died  in  1833.     He  had  several  sons  born 
from    1809  to  1818,  viz  :   Philip  Burr,  Jesse  Smith,  Francis,  William  Henry,  and  Amos  Baker. 
Of  these,  Philip  Burr  resides  in  Andrew  Jackson  Co.,  Iowa;  Francis  m  Chicago;  and  William 
Henry  in  Chicago,  for  many  years  Clerk  of  the  U.  S.  Court. 

James  Bradley,  younger  brother  of  Capt.  Daniel,  removed  to  Ridgefield  in  1750.  By  his  wife, 
Sarah  Bennett,  he  had  ten  children,  Samuel,  Abigail,  James,  Ezekiel,  Widden,  Abiah,  Howard, 
Sally,  Polly  &  Lewis.  He  died  at  Ridgefield  in  1784.  and  all  his  family,  except  two  married 
daughters,  afterwards  removed  to  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.  Howard  removed  from  thence  to 
Michigan,  in  1834,  where  his  family  still  reside. 

IV.  JOSEPH  BRADLEY,  fourth  son  of  Francis  and  Ruth,  m.  Eleanor ,  and  died  October, 

1714.     He  had  children  :   i.  Sarah,  bap.  Feb.  3  1706  ;  2.  Deborah,  bap.  same  day  ;  3.  Mary,  bap. 
May  12,  1706  ;  4  David,  1708  ;  5  Joseph  Jr.  Ap  8,  1711  ;  6,  Nathan,  Oct.  18,  1713.     Of  these,  4. 
David  m..  Damaris  Davis,  1731,  and  had,  Eunice,  1732  ;  Justus,  1734  ;  Ellen,  1736  ;  Olive,  1738  ; 
David,  1740  ;  Damaris,  1742  ;  Justus,    1745  ;  Nathan,  1748  ;  Mary,    1750  ;  Bettie,  1753  ;  Peter, 
1756.     5.  Joseph  Jr.  m.  1st  Jerusha  Turney,  1732,  and  had  Mary,  1733  ;  Increase,  1736  ;  Jerusha, 
1739,  Elisha,   1745.     He  m.    2nd  Mary  Squire,  1747,  and  had,  Ann,  1748  ;  Naomi,  1749  ;  Ruth, 
1751  ;  Mabel,  1753  ;  Sarah,    1754  ;   Mary,  1757  ;  Joseph,    1759  ;  Charity,    1765.     Of   these  last, 
Elisha  m.  Eunice   Banks,  1770,  and    had  Jesse,  1771  ;  Eli,    1772  ;  Eunice,    1775  ;  Sarah,    1777  ; 
Increase,  1780  ;  Betsey,  1784  ;  Susanna,  I7&6.    Jesse  was  the  father  of  Mr.   Henry  Bradley,  who 
died  at  Greenfield,  July  24,  1883,  aged  76.      Toseph,  son  of  Joseph  Jr.  and  Mary  Squire,  in.  Rachel 
Burr,  and  was  the  father  of  the  late  Burr  Bradley  of  Greenfield,  and  his  sisters  Grizzel  and  Mary, 
now  deceased.     They  all  lived  in  the  old  mansion,  which  is  now  occupied  by  Lloyd  N.  Sherwood, 
who  married  Burr  Bradley's  daughter. 

V.  There  was  a  SAMUEL    BRADLEY  residing  at  Fairfield  at  the  beginning  of  last  century,  not 
descended    from    Francis    Bradley.      He  and    his  wife,  Phebe,  became    members  of    the  Fairfield 
Church  May  25,  1712,  and  had  two  daughters,  Deborah  and  Anna,  baptized  at  the  same  time,  and 
afterwards,  a    son,    Samuel,    bap.    Nov.  1713  ;    Benjamin,   bap.    March,  1716,  and   Phebe,    bap. 
March,  1718.     This  Samuel  Bradley  probably  came  from  New  Haven.     Joseph  Bradley,  eldest 
son  of  William  Bradley  of  New  Haven,  had  a  son  Samuel  born  Jan.  3rd,  1681,  who  was  probably 
the  person  referred  to.     He  appeal's  to  have  been  on  intimate  terms  with  the  family  of  Francis 
Bradley,  since  in  I7I41-,  he  was  appointed  guardian  of  some  of  the  children,  both  of  John  and 
Joseph  Bradley.     No  further  notice  of  his  descendants  is  found  on  the  records. 

Contributed  by  Justice  Joseph  P.  Bradley  of  the 

Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 


358  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

BULK LEY 

The  family  of  BUCKLOGH,  BULCLOG  or  BULKLEY,  is  descended  from  Lord  Bulklogh  of  Bulk- 
logh,  and  derive  their  name  from  a  chain  of  mountains  in  Ireland.  They  date  as  far  back  as  the 
reign  of  King  John  of  England  in  the  12.  century.*  The  family  coat  of  arms,  found  in  the  house 
of  Rev.  Gershom  Bulkley  D.D.  of  Weathersfield,  Conn.,  who  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Peter 
Bulkier  of  Concord,  Mass.,  is  thus  described :  Argent  a  chevron  between  three  bulls  heads  cabossed — 
sable.  The  motto  under  it  is,  "  Nee  tcinere  ncc  tiniidc ;  "  neither  rashly  nor  timidly."  This  shield 
with  that  of  Chetwood  (the  second  wife  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley)  "  impaling  Chetwode  quarterly, 
argent  &  gules,  four  crosses  pattie  counterchanged,  is  quite  handsome. "f 

THE  REV.  PETER  BULKLEY,  s.  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Bulkley,  D.D.,  of  the  parish  of  Odell, 
Berfordshire,  England,  was  born  Jan  31,  1583,  &  m.  I.  Jane  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Allen,  &  by 
her  had  twelve  children.  His  second  wife  was  Grace,  d.  of  Sir  Richard  Chetwode,  by  whom  he 
had  several  other  children.  He  came  to  Massachusetts  in  1635,  &  soon  after  was  regularly 
installed  teacher  of  the  first  church  of  Concord,  Mass,  (with  the  Rev.  John  Jones  as  pastor),  where 
he  died  March  9,  1659,  aged  76. 

Three  of  the  sons  of  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  viz  :  Thomas,  Daniel  &  Peter  settled  at  Fairfield,  & 
fro*m  them  descended  the  Bulkleys  of  the  town  and  county  of  Fairfield. 

DANIEL  s.  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  probably  a  bachelor  was  granted  a  home-lot  by  the 
town,  next  n.  w.  of  his  brother  Thomas',  in  the  Newton  Square  ;  &  died  soon  after  he  came  to  F., 
leaving  his  estate  to  his  brother  Thomas. 

THOMAS  i.  son  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley  m.  Sarah  d.  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones.  He,  with  his 
wife  and  family,  were  of  the  company  who  moved  from  Concord  to  F.  in  1644,  where  soon  aftei 
he  was  granted  a  home-lot  in  the  Newton  Square  s.  w.  of  his  brother  Daniel's  He  died  in  1658, 
leaving  wife  Sarah,  who  afterwards  m.  Anthony  Wilson  of  F.  Mrs.  Wilson  in  her  will  dat.  15, 
Feb.  1680  Si  mentions  d.  Sarah,  wife  of  Eleazer  Browne  of  New  Haven  :  Rebecca  wife  of  Joseph 
Whelpley  of  Fairfield  ;  d.  Hannah,  &  sons  John  &  Joseph  Bulkley.  To  her  sons,  she  left  her 
home-lot,  (';  or  two  home-lots  as  it  sometimes  was.")  being  about  4  acres  on  Concord  St,  opposite 
the  Meeting-house  Green,  "viz:  John  the  s.  e.  side,  the  whole  depth  of  the  lot,  a  rod  in  breadth 
more  than  Joseph's.  Joseph  to  have  the  other  part,  &  ye  dwelling  house  &  barn,  &  either  of  them 
to  have  such  part  of  ye  orchard  as  falls  within  their  dividend  ;  &  to  her  sons  she  willed  all  other 
lands  belonging  to  her.  To  John  she  willed  a  silver  beaker,  a  silver  spoon,  a  chair  which  was  her 
father's,  &  books.  To  her  son  Joseph  a  silver  spoon,  an  iron  back,  a  carved  chest  &  three 
books  ;  to  her  d.  Hannah  £20,  &  £20.  more  in  a  codicil  of  the  same  date.  To  her  d.  Sarah 
Brown,  she  gave  Graham's  \Vorks  3  vols.  Walker's  God's  Providence,  &  a  view  of  False  Christian- 
ity. To  d.  Rebecca  Whelpley  Goodwin's  Child  of  Light,  &  Mason's  Care  of  Cares.  To  d.  Han- 
nah, Skudder's  Daily  Walk  ;  Bane's  Help  to  True  Happiness  ;  England's  Elizabeth,  &  a  silver 
porringer  &  small  spoon.  To  sister  Elizabeth  Hill,  Elbone's  Complaint  of  a  Sinner  Answered.  To 
s.  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  "  The  Covenant,"  Preston's  Saint's  Portion,  Baine's  Counter  Bane.  She 
divided  her  household  furniture  equally  among  her  three  daughters,  leaving  her  son  John  her  sole 
executor. 

JOHN  I.  s.  of  Thomas  Bulkley  I.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Joseph  \Vhelpley.  Their  children  \vere 
Sarah  ;  Esther  who  m.  John  Hill  ;  Hannah  m.  cousin  Peter  Buckley  ;  Elizabeth  bapt.  26  Aug.  1694, 
&  m.  Nathaniel  Whitehead  of  Elizabethtown  N.  J. ;  Olive  bapt.  31  Aug.  1696,  &  m.  James  Beers. 
John  Buckley  I.  died  about  1707. 

JOSEPH  i.,  s.  of  Thomas  Buckley  i.  m.  first  Elizabeth  d.  of  John  Knowles  of  F.  &  second, 
Martha  d.  of  James  Beers,  &  had  Thomas,  Daniel,  John  ;  Joseph  b.  9  May  1682  ;  Peter  b.  21.  May 
1684;  Sarah  bapt.  23  Sept.  1694  &  m.  Joshua  Jennings  2.  ;  Gershom  13  Sept.  1696  ;  &  John  22. 
March  1701-.  Joseph  Buckley  I.  died  intestate  about  1720. 

*  Shattuck's  Hist.  Concord  p.  157.  t  Elements  of  Heraldry,  by  William  A.  Whitmore  pp.  57,  58. 


GENEALOGIES  359 

JOSEPH  2.,  s.  of  Joseph  Buckley  r.  m.  Esther  d.  of  Josepli  Hill.  Their  children  were  Joseph 
bapt.  9.  March  I7iili;  Esther  20.  Dec.  1713  ;  Nathan  19.  Jan  \-\il* ,  (who  was  the  Town 
Recorder,  &  who  occupied  his  father's  homestead  at  the  time  F.  was  burned  in  1779)  ;  Joseph  22. 
Nov.  1719  ;  Samuel  6.  March  1725°  ;  Sarah  23.  Feb.  1728-  ;  Ebenezer  5.  Dec  1731. 

DANIEL  s.  of  Joseph  Buckley  I.  m. d.  of .  Their  children  were  Daniel  b.  15  June 

1718  ;  Jabez  28.  Feb  1719^  ;  Martha  2.  July  1721  ;  Nehimiah  15  Nov.  1724;  Jabez  16  March 
1729. 

DR.  PETER,  the  youngest  s.  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Buckley  did  not  settle  at  F.  until  some  time  after 
his  brothers.  He  probably  m.  Margaret  Foxcroft  of  Boston,  as  in  a  record  in  A.  of  T.  D.  he  sold  to 
the  heirs  of  Francis  Foxcroft  all  interest  he  and  his  wife  had  in  said  Foxcroft's  house  in  Boston, 
for  qo£.  Francis  Foxcroft  is  said  to  have  been  a  s.  of  Daniel  Foxcroft,  mayor  of  Leeds,  in  Co. 
York,  &  his  second  wife  was  Eliza  d.  of  Gov.  Danford.  Dr.  Peter  Buckley  was  an  apothecary 
as  well  as  a  physician  in  F.  He  left  but  a  small  estate.  His  will  is  dated  25.  March  1691,  in 
which  he  calls  himself  "  in  the  49.  year  of  his  age,"  mentions  s.  Peter  (b.  1683)  then  seven,  &  a 
quarter  years  old,  who  upon  arriving  at  a  suitable  age,  he  willed  should  be  bound  to  James  Bennet 
jr.  until  of  age,  to  be  taught  "the  art  of  weaving  both  linen  &  woolen,  to  ye  best  of  his  capac- 
ity." He  mentions  d's  Grace,  Margaret  £  Hannah  Sherman.  His  brother  Rev.  Dr.  Gershom 
Buckley  of  Weathersneld,  mentions  two  other  children  of  Dr.  Peter  Buckley's  viz  :  Gershom  & 
Dorothy. 

GERSHOM  s.  of  Dr.  Peter  Buckley  I.  of  F.  m. d.  of .  Their  children  were  Eunice 

bapt.  4.  Jan.  1701^  ;  Rachel  23,  March  i~o6L  ;  Gershom  27  March  1709  ;  Grace  27.  May  1711  ; 
Hezekiah  29.  Nov  1713  ;  Peter  5.  Feb.  1715^  ;  Jonathan  iS.  May  1718  ;  Grace  12.  Feb.  1720'-'-; 
Talcott  23.  Aug.  1724. 

PETER  2.  s.  of  Dr.  Peter  Buckley  I.  of  F.  m.  Hannah  d.  of  John  Buckley  i.  Their  children 
were  David  &  Peter  jr  bapt.  9  March  1711  —  ;  Sarah  14.  Dec  1712  :  Sarah  29.  Nov  1713  ;  Peter  9. 
Oct  1715  ;  Andrew  6.  Oct.  1717  ;  Gershom  13.  Aug.  1721  ;  Jabez  4.  Oct  1723  ;  Olive  —  —  July 
1725  :  Hannah  16.  Oct  1726  ;  Moses  9.  July  1727  ;  Abigail  13.  April  1729  ;  James  3.  Aug  1729  ; 
Mary  17.  Oct  1731  ;  Jonathan  24.  Sept.  1732.  T.  P.  Rec. 

BURR 

BURRE  or  BURR — JEHUE  BURRE  probably  came  in  the  fleet  with  Gov.  Winthrop  to  New  Eng- 
land. On  the  19.  Oct.  1630  he  applied  to  the  Gen.  Court  of  Mass,  for  the  rights  of  a  freeman,  & 
was  admitted  iS.  May  1631.  In  1633  he  was  one  of  a  committee  to  over-see  building  a  bridge 
over  Muddy  &  Stony  river,  between  Boston  &  Roxbury.  His  name  &  that  of  a  wife  is  mentioned 
in  1635,  as  among  the  church  members  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Spring- 
field or  Agawam,  who  with  Wm.  Pynchon,  Wm.  Smith  &  six  other  young  men  "  of  good  spirits  & 
sound  bodies,"  founded  that  town  in  1636.  On  the  9,  of  Feb.  1637,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Gen. 
Court  of  Conn,  to  collect  taxes  at  Agawam,  (which  at  that  time  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
Connecticut),  to  assist  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  Pequot  war.  Savage  says  he  removed  to 
Fairfield  in  1640,  &  represented  the  town  in  1641.  He  was  granted  a  home-lot  from  the  town  s.  w. 
of  the  Meeting-house  Green  &  the  pond,  afterwards  called  Edward's  Pond,  the  rear  of  which 
adjoined  the  home-lot  of  the  Rev.  John  Jones.  He  was  a  deputy  to  the  Gen.  Court  in  September 
of  1645,  &  also  in  1646.  It  is  difficult  to  state  when  he  died  ;  some  writers  say  about  1650,  while 
others  place  his  death  at  a  later  date.  The  probability  is,  that  he  is  the  same  Mr.  Jehue  Burre 
who  appealed  a  jury  verdict  given  in  Stratford  in  1651,  to  the  Gen.  Court  at  Hartford  the  same 
year  ;  was  a  grand  juror  in  1660,  a  commissioner  of  the  United  Colonies  in  1664  ;  &  died  before 
1670.  He  left  four  sons  Jehu,  John,  Daniel  &  Nathaniel,  &  probably  other  children.  No  men- 
tion is  made  who  his  wife  was,  or  of  her  death. 

In  a  record  of  Sergt.  Nehemiah  Olmstead's  lands,  who  died  before  1671,  is  mentioned  the 


360  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

fact,  that  said  Olmsteacl  "  before  he  died,  did  purchase  land  of  his  brother-in-law  Jehue  Burre.* 
It  is  possible  that  Jehue  Burre  Sr.  may  have  married  an  older  sister  of  said  Olmstcad  ;  but  the 
probability  is  that  Olmstead,  who,  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death  in  1640,  was  a  minor  ;  &  came 
to  Fairfield  in  or  before  1650,  married  Elizabeth  daughter  of  the  above  Jehue  Burre  Sr.  John 
Cable  Sr.  who  died  in  1682.  in  his  will  mentions  his  kinsman  Jehu  &  John  Burr,  who  were  no 
doubt  cousins.  The  wife  of  Jehue  Burre  Sr.  therefore  may  have  been  a  sister  of  John  Cable. 

JEHU  BURR  2nd  probably  born  in  England,  1st  m.  Mary  d.  of  Andrew  Ward,  by  whom  he 
had  several  children  ;  &  2d  in.  Esther  widow  of  Joseph  Boosy  of  \Vestchester,  by  whom  he  had 
other  children.  lie  became  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  town  &  colony  ;  was  a  Capt.  in 
Philip's  war,  a  commissioner  of  the  United  Colonies,  &  held  offices  of  the  highest  trust  &  power, 
lie  died  in  1692.  He  lived  in  the  family  homestead,  having  in  1671  pur.  his  brother  John's  inter- 
est in  the  house  &  home  lot  of  their  father.  In  1673,  he  pur.  the  next  lot  west  of  this.  In  his 
will  dated  7,  Jan.  1689,  he  mentions  wife  Esther,  for  whom  he  amply  provides,  gives  to  s.  Daniel 
ii  acres  at  the  rocks  &  a  long  lot  pur.  of  Rev.  John  Jones  ;  to  ss.  Peter  &  Samuel  his  land  & 
housing,  Peter  to  pay  Samuel  50^  in  provision  pay  when  of  age  ;  divides  all  commonage  equally 
between  ss.  Daniel,  Peter  &  Samuel  ;  mentions  d.  Esther  having  rec.  her  portion,  other  ds.  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  Joanna  &  Abigail  minors  to  rec.  their  portion  at  18  years  of  age,  &  to  his  grand- 
daughter, only  child  of  his  deceased  d.  Mary  2o£.  as  her  mother's  dower,  to  be  held  in  trust  by 
her  father  Capt.  Samuel  Wakeman,  until  she  became  of  age. 

PETER  BURR  s.  of  Jehu  2.  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1690,  taught  school  a  few  years, 
&  became  a  noted  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  is  called  in  the  parish  records  the  "Wor- 
shipful Mr.  Peter  Burr."  He  m.  in  Boston  &  a  2cl  wife  in  F.  the  widow  of  Jonathan  Sturges 

&  d.  in  1724  or  5.  His  children  were  Thaddeus  bapt.  8,  Sept.  1700  ;  Abigail  25,  Oct,  1702  ; 
Gershom  6,  May  1705  ;  Sarah  14.  Dec  1707,  &  Eunice  2.  July  1710.  His  wid.  m.  the  Hon. 
Jonathan  Laws,  of  Milford,  Conn. 

JOHN  BURR  s.  of  Jehue  I.  probably  born  in  England,  was  made  a  freeman  of  Conn.  Oct  1664, 
&  became  a  prominent  man,  &  died  in  1694.  He  lived  on  the  s.  w.  side  of  the  street  opposite 
Henry  Rowland's  house  f  on  the  Frost  Square.  His  will  is  dated  19.  March  1694,  in  which  he 
mentions  w.  Sarah  (d.  of  his  father-in-law  Fitch,  but  gives  no  clue  to  said  Fitche's  Christian  name, 
or  residence.)  whom  he  left  "a  suitable  &  honorable  maintenance"  &  "  the  use  of  his  silver  bowl," 
during  her  life,  or  while  she  remained  his  widow.  To  his  son  John  Burr  he  left  his  house  &  barn, 
formerly  Stricklands  &  Pinckney's,  &  3  &  J  acres  "  next  adjoining,  near  the  Old  field  gate  "  ;  10 
acres  in  the  home-meadow  ;  swamp  &  reeds  at  the  beach  ;  Paul's  neck  div. ;  front  of  Mill-hill  div. ; 
lot  near  Applegate's  ;  12  acres  on  Sascoe-hill  ;  '{  long-lot  after  David  had  received  80  acres  on  the 
front  of  said  long-lot,  he  allowing  a  suitable  highway  of  2  rods  through  said  land  ;  &  -I  his  Per- 
petual Common.  To  s.  Samuel  Burr,  the  farm  in  the  woods  granted  him  by  the  General  Court, 
&  40  £.  for  his  education,  to  be  taken  out  of  the  whole  estate  for  a  college  course  of  four  years. 
To  s.  Jonathan,  a  minor,  land  in  the  new  field  ;  meadow  in  Sascoe-neck  ;  the  middle  div.  of  land 
on  Mill-hill  ;  •;',  of  his  long-lot  &  1  of  his  Perpetual  Common.  To  David,  a  minor,  home-lot  pur. 
of  John  Cable  ;  the  swamp  &  rear  div.  of  land  at  Mill-hill  ;  land  in  Sascoe-field  ;  the  remainder  of 
his  long-lot  ;  2nd  div.  at  Compo,  &  4  of  all  commons.  To  his  ds.  Mary  &  Deborah  minors,  100^. 
at  the  age  of  18  or  marriage.  Mentions  d.  Sarah  having  received  her  portion.  The  date  of  his 

children's  births  were,  John  b.  2.  May  1673,  (Sarah  25.  July  1675),  David  ,  Joseph  b.  21.  June 

1677.  Samuel  2.   April    1679.     Jonathan .     Ebenezer  7.  Feb.  1681.      Mary  19.  Aug.  1683,  + 

Deborah.  Sarah  m.  29.  June  1692  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey  of  Fairfield  Village,  Samuel  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1697,  &  was  master  of  the  Grammar  School  in  Charlestown.  Mass., 
about  twelve  years.  He  died  7.  Aug  1719,  &  his  tomb-stone  is  in  the  old  Fairfield  Burial  Hill 
Cemetery. 

*  A.  Town  Deeds  p.  243.  t  At  the  present  date,  1888,  occupied  by  Wallace  Bulkley. 


GENEALOGIES  361 

NATHANIEL  BURR  s.  of  Jehue  I.  was  made  a  freeman  in  1664,  &  first  m.  Sarah  cl.  of  Andrew 
Ward,  by  whom  he  had  Sarah  &  Nathaniel.  He  pur.  12.  Feb.  1659,  the  home-lot  house  &c. ,  on 
the  Ludlow  Square  of  Richard  Lyon,  bounded  n.  e.  by  his  brother  Daniel  Burr,  who  on  the  15. 
March  1668-  pur.  Andrew  Ward's  house  &  home-lot,  bounded  n.  e.  by  Major  Nathan  Gold  s 
homestead.  This  place  on  the  Ludlow  Square  remained  in  the  Burr  family  until  after  the  Revo- 
lution. His  second  wife  was  Ann  d.  of  Dr.  James  Laborie.  He  died  22.  Feb.  1712.  His  will 
is  dated  22.  Nov.  1711,  in  which  he  mentions  wife  Ann  ;  ss.  John  &  Daniel,  ds.  Abigail  wife  of 
John  Wheeler  m.  22.  March  1693  ;  Esther  w.  of  John  Sloss  a  merchant  ;  Ann  w.  of  Gideon  Allen 
m.  20.  Jan.  1696  ;  Rebecca  w.  of  Capt.  Samuel  Sherwood  m.  30.  Nov.  1704  ;  d.  Mary  w.  of  Dr. 
James  Laborie  ;  &  the  four  grandchildren  of  his  dec.  s.  Nathaniel.  His  son  Col.  John  Burr  settled 
in  Pequannock  &  owned  a  farm  on  the  turnpike  n.  w.  of  the  New  York,  Hartford  &  New  Haven 
R.R.,  inclosing  the  grand,  old  oak  tree,  which  is  said  to  have  been  the  council  canopy  of  the 
English  &  Indians  in  the  sale  of  Indian  lands.  Alas  !  this  tree  fell  in  a  severe  storm  in  1884.  all 
its  boughs  having  died  long  before  ;  but  each  spring  until  it  fell,  it  put  forth  around  its  trunk  twigs 
&  green  leaves. 

The  children  of  John  &  Esther  Sloss  were  Anne  bapt.  6.  June  1703  ;  Sarah  14.  March  1707-; 
Ellen  I.  Oct.  1710;  Deborah  22.  March  1712—.  Mrs.  Esther  Sloss  renewed  covenant  at  F.  6. 
June  1703. 

DANIEL  s.  OF  JEHUE  I.  a  merchant  in  Fairfield,  was  made  a  freeman  in  1668,  &  soon  after 
m.  Abigail  d.  of  Henry  Glover  of  New  Haven,  by  whom  he  had  Daniel  b.  30  July  1670,  Abigail 
4.  March  1671-,  Ellen  26.  Oct  1680,  (Town  Records)  &  probably  others.  Both  he  &  his  wife  were 
living  in  1692  when  on  the  16.  Sept.  he  made  over  to  the  trustees  of  his  father-in-law's  estate, 
certain  lands  in  Fairfield  for  the  use  of  30  £.  in  silver  money,  left  in  trust  to  his  wife  Abigail  by 

her  father.  She  must  have  died  soon  after.  His  2.  wife  was  Eleanor  d.  of by  whom  he 

probably  had  Seth  &  Samuel  b.  19  Aug.  169.4,  &  called  in  Fairfield  Parish  Records,  sons  of  Mr. 
Daniel  Burr  sr.  His  wife  Eleanor  presented  an  inventory  of  his  estate  1695,  showing  that  he  had 
died  about  that  time. 

DANIEL  s.  OF  JEHU  BURR  2.  lived  at  Greenfield,  Aspetuck  River,  &  was  called  Daniel  Burr 
of  Upper  Meadow.  He  was  given  by  his  father  19.  Dec  1687,  twelve  acres  of  land  at  the  Upper 
Meadow,  with  a  house  &  barn  thereon,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mill-river.  His  first  wife  was 
Hannah  d  of  John  Banks  I.  by  whom  he  had  s.  Daniel,  mentioned  in  his  grandfather  John  Banks' 
will,  dat.  12.  Jan  1684-  ;  &  d.  Hannah.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Sherwood,  by  whom  he  had 

s.  Jehu  &  d.  Mary  (Greenfield  Parish  Records).  His  third  wife  was  Elizabeth  d.  of ,  by 

whom  he  had  Elizabeth  bapt.  20.  Sept.  1696  ;  Stephen  3.  Oct.  1697  ;  Peter  23.  July  1699  ;  Jane 
27.  April  1701  ;  Esther  31.  Jan  1702-;  Nathaniel  i.  June  1707  ;  David  I.  Jan  1709—  ;  Moses  28. 
March  1714,  &  Aaron  4.  March  iji=,—.  (Fairfield  Parish  Records.)  In  his  will  dated  i.  Jan 
1719--  he  mentions  w.  Elizabeth,  his  oldest  s.  Jehu,  ss.  Stephen,  Peter,  David,  Moses  &  Aaron. 

The  three  latter  were  minors,  &  his  ds.  Hannah,  &  Mary  w.  of Wheeler  ;  Elizabeth  w.  of 

Hull  ;  Jane  &  Esther.  In  the  inventory  of  his  estate  dated  14.  July  1727,  Jane  is  called  the 

wife  of Sherwood.  His  estate  was  large,  his  eldest  son  receiving  over  1,000  £.  &  each  of  his 

other  children  545  £.  MOSES  BURR  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1734. 

REV.  AARON  BURR  S.  of  Daniel  of  Upper  Meadow  b.  at  Greenfield  4.  Jan  1716,  &  bapt.  in  F. 
C.  4,  March  following  ;  graduated  at  Yale  College  1735  ;  &  entered  into  full  Communion  with  the 
G.  H.  C.  C.  Aug  3,  the  same  year.  He  studied  for  the  ministry,  was  a  man  of  distinguished 
ability,  &  was  first  settled  in  Newark  N.  J.,  where  he  taught  a  flourishing  school,  until  called  to  be 
the  President  of  Princeton  College.  He  d.  Sept.  24.  1757.  aged  42.  Upon  settling  at  Newark  he 
sold  the  homestead  at  Upper  Meadow  to  two  cousins,  each  named  Joseph  Bradley  3.  April  1738, 
one  of  whom  was  the  great  grand  father  of  Justice  Joseph  P.  Bradley  of  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 
He  m.  Esther  d.  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards  of  New  Haven,  by  whom  he  had  two  children 


362  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Sarah  &  Aaron.  Sarah  m.  the  Honorable  Tappan  Reeves  of  Litchfield,  &  had  but  one  child 
named  Aaron  Burr  Reeves,  who  d.  "says  Hinman,  at  Troy  N.  Y.,  &  left  no  issue  now  living." 
The  son  Col.  Aaron  Burr  became  the  distinguished  politician,  &  a  leading  spirit  in  the  political 
changes  of  the  country  in  1800,  at  which  time  he  was  chosen  the  third  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States.  He  m.  Mrs.  Provost,  the  wid.  of  a  British  officer  2  July  1782.  and  had  one  only  child, 
named  Theodosia  b.  in  1783  a  beautiful  and  accomplished  daughter  who  married  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Alston  of  S.  C.  On  her  way  from  the  South  to  visit  her  father  in  1812  she  was  drowned  at  sea,  & 
by  many  believed  to  have  been  murdered  by  pirates,  a  fate  her  father  was  never  willing  to  credit. 

CABELL 

JOHN  CAHELL  I.  was  in  Mass,  in  1631,  &  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the  Gen.  Ct.  in  1635  for 
liberty  to  remove  to  the  Connecticut  River.  Hinman  says  he  was  in  Springfield  in  1636  (See 
Sprague),  &  probably  accompanied,  or  soon  followed  the  Burrs  to  F.  In  1652  he  assisted  in 
capturing  a  Dutch  vessel  off  the  coast  of  F.,  &  was  awarded  $£  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn. 
He  was  a  seaman,  &  perhaps  a  sea  captain.  He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1669.  In  his  will  of  4 
April  1682  he  mentions  his  grand-son  John  Cabell  ;  grandson  John  Knowles  ;  w.  Ann  who  was 
his  second  wife,  &  widow  of  Roger  Betts  of  Bradford,  Ct.  He  appointed  his  kinsman  Jehue  & 
John  Burr  over-seers  of  his  estate. — F.  Prob.  Rec. 

Hinman  thinks  his  s.  John  Cable,  was  of  Hartford  where  he  died  8.  Dec.  1708.  aged  58  years; 
&  where  he  found  that  "  he  was  born  in  the  City  of  Stugand  or  Stuttgart,  in  high  Germany  on  the 
Rhine."  He  was  in  F.  for  a  time,  where  he  was  made  a.  freeman  10.  Oct.  1669.  There  is  a 
tradition  in  the  Burr  family,  that  Jehue  Burr  was  of  German  descent  ;  &  the  above  statement  may 
give  some  clue  to  their  birth-place,  which  has  as  yet  never  been  discovered.  Savage's  says  he  died 
at  F.  in  1673,  &  could  not  have  been  the  John  of  Hartford.  May  they  not  have  been  brothers  as  in 
the  case  of  the  two  Samuel  Hubbells  &  Thomas  Wheeler  ?  His  d.  Sarah  Cable  m.  Robert  Churchill 
of  F.,  &  his  widow  m.  Thomas  Sherwood. 

JOHN  CABLES,  wife  Abigail  &  children  George,  Jonathan,  John,  Andrew,  Daniel,  Isaac,  Mary 
wife  of •  Patchin,  &  Abigail. 

JOHN  CAIJLE  3.  m.  Anne  Laborie,  d.  of  Dr.  James  Laborie  2.  of  Stratford.  His  children  \vere 
probably  bapt.  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  but  part  of  their  children  are  recorded  in  the  G.  H.  Par. 
Rec.;  bapt.  as  adults,  &  were  Elizabeth  bapt.  23.  Nov.  1746  ;  &  Anna  19.  Dec.  1750. 

DANIEL  CABLE,  probably  s.  of  John  3.  m.  —  —  d.  of Their  children  were  Hezekiah 

bapt.  1744;  Daniel  13.  July  1746;  &  Sarah  23.  April  1749.  G.  H.  Par.  Rec.  Some  of  the 

Cables  lived  at  Green's  Farms. 

THE  COLEY  FAMILY 

THE  name  of  Samuel  Coole  appears  in  the  list  of  those  who  took  the  oath  of  a  freeman  in  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  Colony,  on  the  18.  of  May  1631.  [See  Mass.  Col.  Rec.  Vol.  i.  p.  306].  The 
name  is  sometimes  spelled  Cooley,  Coley,  &  Coly. 

The  name  of  Samuel  Coley  is  found  among  the  first  settlers  of  Milford,  where  he  was  made 
a  freeman  Nov.  20,  1639.  He  joined  the  church  in  1640.  He  married  Ann,  d.  of  James  Pruden 
of  Milford.  Their  children  were,  Peter,  bapt.  1641,  Abilene,  1643,  Samuel  1646,  Sarah  1648,  Mary 
1651,  Hannah  1654  &  Thomas  1657.  Samuel  Coley  died  Oct  3,  1684.  His  will  dated  1678,  &  that 
of  his  widow  dated  1689,  mentions  the  same  seven  children.  Abilene  married  Japhet  Chapin  ; 
Sarah  m.  a  Baldwin  ;  Mary  m.  I.  Peter  Simson,  &  2.  John  Stream.  Hannah  m.  Joseph  Garnsey  ; 
Thomas  m.  Martha  d.  of  John  Stream  (Savage).  .Samuel  m.  Mary  Carles  Oct  21.  1669.  The  name 
is  spelled  in  the  Milford  records  Coley  &  Coly.  Coley  has  3  coats  of  Arms  ;  Coley  or  Collay  I  ; 
Cooley  i  ;  Collay  or  Colley  I  ;  Colle  I  ;  Colle  or  Coulee  i  ;  Collie,  Colley  or  Cooling  I  ;  Cooley  I. 
[Hinman 's  Cat'l.] 


GENEALOGIES  363 

Peter  Coley  I.  s.  of  the  above  Samuel  i.  was  bapt.  at  Milford  in  1641  &  settled  at  F.,  where  he 
was  made  a  freeman  Oct  31.  1664.  His  name  also  appears  in  the  list  of  freemen  from  F.  in  1669. 
He  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Humphrey  Hide,  by  whom  he  had  Samuel,  Sarah,  Peter  &  Mary,  (See  will  of 
Humphrey  Hide),  to  whom  sd.  Humphrey  left  "  one  half  of  his  home-lot  in  the  rear  next  the  rocks." 
In  the  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Simon  Couch  i.  of  Bankside,  who  died  in  1689,  Peter  Coley  acknow- 
ledges the  receipt  of  fifty  pounds,  being  the  legacy  left  to  his  "  now  wife,  Hannah  ''  (meaning  his 
present  wife)  the  daughter  of  Simon  Couch  sr.  who  was  a  minor  when  her  father  died.  [Fairfield 
Town  Records  Book  2.  p.  80.]  By  his  second  wife,  he  had  Elizabeth  &  Hannah,  &  perhaps  others. 
He  died  at  Fairfield  in  1690.  In  the  inventory  of  his  estate,  Savage  calls  Sarah  22  years  of  age  ; 
Ann  16  ;  Mary  13 ;  Elizabeth  8,  Hannah  6  &  Peter,  whose  years  are  not  told.  The  order  in 
which  Humphrey  Hide  mentions  them  in  his  will,  is  probably  the  correct  one. 

It  is  not  singular  that  the  name  of  Samuel  does  not  appear  in  his  father's  will,  as  it  frequently 
happened  in  those  days,  that  the  oldest  sen  received  his  portion  when  he  came  of  age.  Peter,  the 
second  son,  who  is  mentioned  in  his  grandfather  Humphrey  Hide's  will  before  his  sister  Mary, 
must  have  been  about  fifteen  years  of  age  when  sd  Humphrey  Hide  died. 

The  name  of  Peter  Coley  first  appears  on  the  town  records  Aug  6.  1662,  at  which  date  at  a 
town  meeting  it  was  voted  :  "  that  a  strip  of  land,  adjoining  Humphrey  Hide's  land,  should  be 
granted  to  Peter  Coley  to  build  a  shop  upon,  to  be  14  ft.  one  way  &  18  ft.  the  other  way."  On  the 
15.  of  Dec.  1665  it  was  voted  :  "  that  Peter  Coley  be  chosen  to  seal  ye  waits  &  measures  of  the 
town  ;  also  to  be  sworn  packer  of  meats  for  the  town."  This  was  a  high  office  of  trust  in  those 
days,  &  equal  to  the  position  of  a  bank  president.  The  seal  of  the  town  &  his  signature  being 
required  upon  each  weight  &  measure,  &  upon  all  barrels  of  packed  meat  &  pork,  before  they 
passed  into  the  general  market,  as  the  legal  tender  of  the  town  of  F.  On  the  15.  of  March  1668 
Peter  Coley  was  granted  "  a  rod  of  land  in  front  of  Humphrey  Hide's  home-lot,  to  build  a  shop  on." 
In  1669  he  was  granted  one  home-lot  of  three  acres  more  or  less.  He  was  one  of  the  land  dividend 
holders  of  the  town,  &  owned  one  of  the  long-lots. 

Samuel  Coley,  2  s.  of  the  above  Peter  Coley  i.  &  Sarah  Hide,  was  born  at  Fairfield  about  the 

year  1665  or  1666.  He  m.  Esther .  Their  children  were  bapt.  at  F.  as  follows  :  Daniel  bapt. 

2.  Sept.  1695  ;  Jeremiah  &  Abigail  2.  Jan  1695 /6  ;  Esther  15.  Aug.  1703.  His  second  wife  was  Mary 

who  was  bapt.  28.  Nov.  1703.  Their  children  were  Samuel  &  Mary  bapt.  5.  Dec.  1703  ;  John 

17  March,  1705/5  &  Annie  I.  Aug.  1709.  F.  P.  R. 

Peter  2.  s.  of  Peter  Coley  i.  was  b.  12.  June  1671  ;  Ann  13.  Jan.  1673  ;  Mercey  23  April,  1677  ; 
Elizabeth  i.  Dec.  1680.  F.  T.  Rec. 

PETER  COLEY  3.  s.  of  Peter  2.  m.  Hannah  Couch  of  Bankside.  Their  children  were  :  Han- 
nah bapt.  4.  Aug.  1700  ;  Peter  30.  Aug.  1702  ;  Simon  30.  Jan.  1704  ;  Elizabeth  24.  March  1706  ; 
Andrew  25.  July  1708;  Ebenezer  8.  Oct.  1710;  who  introduces  his  father's  name  in  the  church 
Rec.  as  Sergt.  Peter  Coley  ;  Ebenezer  4.  March  1712  ;  David  13.  March  1715  ;  Jonathan  30.  Jan. 
1717  ;  Mary  18.  Jan.  1721.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

The  name  of  William  Cooley  appears  in  the  Mass.  Col.  Rec.  as  early  as  March  1634.  The 
same  name  is  found  in  New  London  in  1664,  at  which  time  he  applies  for  admission  to  that  town 
(Hinman.)  He  was  at  Southold  L.  I.  1663.  with  Robt.  Bartlet  &  George  Tongue,  trading  off  their 
"  ineons  &  wampum  for  Rum."  (Caulkin.)  Again  the  name  of  William  Cooley  appears  in  the  F. 
Church  Rec.,  where  he  renewed  Covenant  June  2.  1695. 

COUCH 

"  One  of  the  most  fertile  roots  of  nomenclature  was  the  simple  road-side  cross.  The  latter 
old  English  form,  is  still  found  lingering  in  our  crutched  or  crouched  Friars.  Langland  describes 
a  pilgrim  as  having  many  a  crouche  on  his  cloake  :  i.  e.  many  a  mark  of  the  cross  embroidered 
thereon.  A  dweller  by  these  way-side  crucifixes,  would  easily  get  the  soubriquet  therefrom,  & 


364  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

thus  we  find  atte  Crouch  to  be  of  early  occurrence."  (Bardsley's  English  Surnames).  A  traveler 
abroad  frequently  meets  with  the  way-side  crucifix,  before  which  the  passer-by  kneels  in  silent 
prayer  to  the  living  Christ  in  Heaven.  It  was  often  the  case  that  these  crucifixes  were  raised  on 
the  border  of  a  spring  of  water,  so  that  the  passer-by  could  refresh  himself  with  a  cup  of  cold 
water.  It  was  from  living  near  one  of  these  road-side  crosses,  that  the  Crouch,  or  Couch  family 
derived  their  names. 

SIMON  CROUCH,  or  Couch  I.  was  made  a  freeman  of  F.  13.  Oct  1664.  He  was  no  doubt 
closely  related  to  Thomas  Couch  of  Weathersfield,  &  to  Samuel  Couch  of  Mil  ford.  He  may  have 
been  one  of  the  traditional  three  brothers.  He  m.  Mary  d.  of  Francis  Andrews  of  Bankside.  He 
with  John  Andrews  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  his  father-in-law,  most  of  their  interest  in  their 
father's  estate.  He  purchased  of  his  mother-in-law  Anna  Andrews  6.  March  1663,  all  her  interest 
in  the  housing  &  lands  of  her  deceased  husband.  His  home-lot  of  nine  acres  was  bounded  on 
the  east  with  John  Green's  home-lot  ;  n.  John  Andrews  ;  w.  commons,  &  s.  w.  high-way.  He 
became  a  large  land-holder  in  Green's  Farms  ;  &  for  several  years  he  with  John  Andrews  carried 
on  a  law-suit  against  the  town  of  F.  to  recover  lands,  claimed  by  right  of  purchase  from  tho 
Indians,  before  Bankside  was  made  a  part  of  the  town  of  F.  He  owned  a  part  of  the  first  long- 
lot  next  the  Norwalk  bounds.  In  his  will  of  22.  Dec.  1687,  which  was  probated  in  1689,  he  gave 
to  his  eldest  s  Thomas  several  acres  of  land  in  Green's  Farms,  his  short  gun  &  cutlass,  &  hatter's 
tools  ;  to  his  second  s.  Simon  his  homestead,  except  three  acres  of  the  home-lot  ;  his  gun  called 
the  "  crooke  "  &  short  cutlass  ;  to  s.  Samuel  several  pieces  of  land,  &  the  three  acres  reserved  in 
his  home-lot  in  the  n.  w.  end  of  it  ;  &  a  gun  ;  to  his  brother's  s.  Thomas  Couch,  40%  &  to  his 
brother's  d.  living  at  John  Grummans  2O5-;  &  to  Susannah  Couch,  living  at  Milford  2OS-  The 
rest  of  his  land  he  divided  equally  among  his  sons  ;  to  his  two  eldest  ds.  Mary  £  Martha,  he  gave 
50  £,.  each  when  of  age,  &  to  ds.  Sarah  &  Hannah  50  £.  at  eighteen.  He  caused  his  sons  to  pro- 
vide a  fixed  &  ample  allowance  yearly  for  their  mother.  He  was  buried  in  land  belonging  to  him 
at  Frost  Point  looking  out  upon  the  sound,  which  he  had  set  apart  as  a  family  burial  place,  & 
which  was  long  known  as  the  Couch  Burial  Hill.  This  spot  could  be  pointed  out  until  within  the 
last  few  years,  but  now  almost  every  trace  of  the  tombs  &  graves  have  been  obliterated.  It  lay 
west  of  the  present  Phipps  Green.  His  cl.  Mary  m.  John  Grumman.  Hannah  in.  Peter  Coley, 
&  Martha  m.  Abraham  Finch.  His  s.  Thomas  sailed  for  England  in  1689  ;  &  made  his  will  of 
S.  April  the  same  year,  in  which  he  gave  his  mother  the  use  of  his  lands  during  her  widowhood, 
&  at  her  death  to  his  brother  Simon's  eldest  son,  &  if  he  had  no  son,  to  his  brother  Samuel's 
eldest  son.  His  will  was  probated  2.  Dec.  1691.  The  seal  contains  a  small  rustic  cross,  very 
nicely  engraved  upon  it.  The  tradition  in  the  family  is,  that  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  for 
England,  was  taken  by  the  French  &  his  fate  \vas  never  known.  Mary  the  widow  of  Simon  Couch 
died  in  1691,  &  the  use  of  the  land  left  her  by  her  s.  Thomas,  fell  to  the  eldest  son  of  her  s. 
Samuel. 

SIMON  2.  s.  of  Simon  Couch  I.  m.  Abigail  d.  of  John  Sturgis  I.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
in  Green's  Farms.  &  active  in  its  political,  ecclesiastical  &  school  interests.  He  continued  the 
claim  of  his  father  &  the  other  Bankside  farmers  to  the  land  which  the  town  of  F.  agreed  29.  June 
1666  to  allow  them,  when  they  consented  to  become  a  part  of  the  township.  This  claim  was  set- 
tled by  a  committee  appt.  6.  Aug.  1705,  consisting  of  John  Curtis  Esqr.  of  Stratford,  John  Haw- 
ley  of  .Stratford,  &  John  Read  of  F.  for  the  Bankside  farmers  ;  &  to  Judge  Peter  Burr,  &  Capt. 
John  \Vakeman  for  the  town.  On  the  I.  of  March  1706  Lieut.  Joseph  Wakeman  &  Robert  Sil- 
liman  "  were  appointed  by  the  town  to  lay  out  to  Simon  &  Samuel  Couch  the  15  acres  as  the  claim 
awarded  them  by  John  Curtis,  John  Wakeman.  John  Read  &  Lieut.  John  Hawley. "  The  other 
claimants  were  the  heirs  of  John  Green.  Daniel  Frost  &  Thomas  Newton.  Some  fresh  trouble 
arising  in  regard  to  this  claim,  the  final  settlement  was  not  made  until  the  17.  Sept.  1719.  He 
purchased  19.  March  1696  his  brother  Samuel's  interest  in  the  family  homestead,  with  other  inter- 


GENEALOGIES  365 

est  of  said  Samuel's.  On  the  5.  of  May  1703  the  division  line  between  Norwalk  and  Fairfiekl, 
having  cut  off  several  acres  of  his  father's  long-lot,  the  town  of  F.  allowed  him  in  exchange  for 
his  interest  in  sd  long-lot,  28  acres  on  Turkey  Hill.  His  children  were  Abigail  b.  31.  Jan.  1694  ; 
Thomas  9.  June  1695  ;  Simon  6.  July  1697  ;  Hannah  30.  Aug  1699  ;  Sarah  30.  March  1706  ;  Isa- 
belle  17.  Sept.  1708;  &  Deborah  30.  March  1710.  He  died  early  in  1713.  His  will  of  2.  of 
March  I7I211,  was  probated  the  7.  of  April  following.  In  it  he  appointed  his  wife  Abigail  &  his 
brother-in-law  Jonathan  Sturgis  executors,  but  the  latter  refused  to  act,  &  the  widow  took  up  the 
trust.  To  his  wife  Abigail  he  gave  ^  of  his  housing  &  movable  estate,  his  negro  man  Jack  & 
negro  girl  Jenne  ;  to  s.  Thomas  he  gave  30  ^  value  in  his  estate,  having  deducted  from  his  share 
the  care  he  had  taken  of  the  land  left  him  by  his  Uncle  Thomas.  The  remainder  of  his  estate  at 
Green's  Farms,  he  gave  to  his  s.  Simon  with  his  housing  &c.  &  to  his  five  daughters,  only  Simon 
was  to  receive  twice  as  much  as  his  sisters,  who  were  each  to  have  equal  portions.  If  Simon  died 
before  reaching  the  age  of  21.,  he  entailed  his  portion  to  his  brother  Samuel.  He  gave  his  200 
acres  of  land  "  lying  between  Fairfield  &  Danbury,  now  known  as  Couch  Hill,  equally  between  his 
two  sons.  To  his  slave  Antony  he  gave  30  acres  at  the  upper  end  of  his  200  acres,  provided  he 
served  his  mistress  until  of  age." 

THOMAS  2.  s.  of  the  above  Simon  Couch  2.  settled  at  Green's  Farms  &  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Gideon 
Allen  7.  Dec.  1721.  Their  children  were  Sarah  b.  i.  Dec  1723  ;  Thomas  28.  Nov.  1725  ;  (F.  T. 
Rec.)  s.  Thomas  again  &  Simon.  In  his  will  of  6.  Dec.  1735  he  gave  his  estate  to  his  wife  Sarah 
&  ds  Sarah  &  Ann,  &  to  his  wife  his  slave  Jenny  ;  to  his  s.  Thomas  his  negro  boy  Frank,  &  all  his 
estate  lying  in  F.,  except  his  bridge-hill-lot,  bounded  n.  by  Edward  Jessup's  home-lot  ;  &  one  half 
of  his  right  in  the  commons  £  undivided  land  in  F.,  to  s.  Simon  his  bridge-hill-lot,  his  farm  at 
Reading,  his  negro  boy  Quass  &  one  half  of  his  right  in  the  commons  &  undivided  land.  He  also 
divided  between  his  sons  Thomas  &  Simon  his  land  in  New  Fairfield.  His  s.  Simon  m.  Abigail  d. 
of  Joshua  Jennings  of  Green's  Farms  18.  May  1721.  His  d.  Sarah  m.  John  Andrews  2.  28.  Oct. 
1730. 

SAMUEL  r.  s.  of  Simon  Couch  I.  was  Capt.  of  militia,  &  was  one  of  the  richest  &  most  influen- 
tial citizens  of  F.  In  1696  he  purchased  of  James  Newton  on  Bridge  Hill,  28  acres  of  land,  &  in 
1701  he  was  granted  by  the  town  26  acres  at  Port  Royal  in  exchange  for  his  share  of  his  father's 
long-lot.  He  also  purchased  of  Chicken,  Sagamore  of  the  Aspetuck  Indians,  a  large  tract  of  land 

lying   in   Reading.     He   m.  Edera  d.  of .     His  d.  Hannah  m.  4.  Nov.  1724  Samuel  Osborn. 

He  died  in  1741,  &  as  he  failed  to  mention  an  executor  in  his  will,  the  F.  Prob.  Ct  appointed 
Edmund  Lewis  of  Stratford,  Thomas  Nash  &  Christopher  Godfree  of  Green's  Farms,  to  divide  his 
estate  according  to  his  will.  They  made  returns  of  190^  to  each  heir  to  the  Probate  Court  at  F. 
21.  Jan.  1741s-  as  follows  :  to  Samuel  Couch  21  acres  on  the  s.  end  of  his  long-lot,  on  the  w.  side 
of  the  Norwalk  road  leading  to  Danbury,  140  acres  on  the  e.  side  of  Urnpawage  River,  &  62.)  acres 

by  Crowfoot's.     To  Edra  w.    of Frosc  21  acres  of  the  long-lot  above  Samuel's  share,  &  the 

remaining  half  of  the  Umpawage  lot.  To  Benjamin  Couch  21  acres  of  the  long  lot  above  Edra 
Frost's  &  2  acres  on  the  n.  end  of  the  lot  at  Couche's  farm,  62^  on  the  n.  end  of  the  lot  on  the 
e.  side  of  Couche's  farm,  bounded, e.  by  the  Newton  line,  &  rl,  acres  by  Crowfoot's.  To  Mary  w. 
of  Elijah  Crane  26  acres  on  the  n.  end  of  the  long-lot,  bounded  n.  by  the  Danbury  line  ;  5 
acres  across  the  s.  end  of  t!u-  lot  e.  of  Couche's  farm  on  the  Newton  line.  To  Elizabeth  w.  of  — 
Todd  30  acres,  one  half  of  the  e.  side  of  a  lot  on  the  w.  end  of  Picket's  Ridge  ;  69!,  acres  of  a  lot 
on  the  e.  side  of  Umpawage  Hill.  To  Solomon  Couch  the  remaining  30  acres  of  Picket's 
Ridge  &  64  acres  on  the  s.  side  of  said  Picket's  Ridge,  bounded  s.  by  Mecker's  farm  &  the  highway 
at  the  rear  of  F.  town  bounds.  To  Eunice  w.  of  Ruben  Taylor  53-V  acres  of  the  bog-meadow  lot, 
&  36  acres  across  the's.  end  of  said  lot,  on 'the  side  of  the  n.  w.  lot.  To  Abigail  w.  of  —  —  Hib- 
berd  12  acres  across  the  s.  end  of  the  bog  meadow  lot  :  &  138  acres  on  the  lot  lying  off  the  s.  end 
of  Umpawage  Hill,  bounded  w.  by  the  Ridgefield  line.  In  his  will  Samuel  Couch  gave  his  s. 


366  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

Solomon  all  his  homestead  lands,  except  10  acres  with  the  buildings  thereon  &c.  To  his  s.  John 
Couch  he  gave  10  acres  of  his  homestead  land  &  other  lands.  To  Ebenezer  he  gave  20  acres  of 
land  in  Reading  on  the  e.  side  of  the  road,  leading  from  Norwalk  to  Danbury,  at  the  head  line  of 
F.  township,  &  100  acres  next  to  the  Umpawage  hill.  He  made  provisions  for  the  completion  of 
his  son  John's  education  at  College.  John  lived  at  Reading  a  short  time,  &  then  settled  at  Great 
Barrington.  Benjamin  settled  in  Xaugatuck. 

The  Couch  family  have  to  this  day  been  prominent  men  in  the  to-.vn  &  county  of  Fairfield. 
From  Thomas  Couch  of  Rending  descended  his  grandson  (s.  of  his  s.  Jonathan)  Major  General 
Darius  N.  Couch  who  bravely  distinguished  himself  in  the  late  War  of  the  Rebellion,  &  who  at 
the  present  time  resides  in  Norwalk,  Conn.  Judge  Jessup  Couch  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio  was  a  s.  of 
Simon  Couch  of  Umpawage  Hill.  Reading,  &  was  named  after  his  uncle  Thomas  Couche's  wife 
Elizabeth's  father  Edward  Jessup  of  Green's  Farm.*  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1802.  He 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  Ohio  in  1804,  &  in  1815  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  that  State.  He  was  aide-de-camp  in  the  war  of  1812  to  Gov.  Meigs  of  Ohio. 

From  a  manuscript  now  in  the  possession  of  Edwin  Sherwood  Esqr  of  Southport,  Ct.  the 
following  tradition  is  found.  Thomas  &  Simon  Couch  ran  away  from  England  &  secreting 
themselves  on  board  a  vessel,  sailed  for  America.  They  landed  at  New  Haven,  &  "  holding  up 
a  stick  let  it  fall  to  direct  them.  Thomas  went  eastward  &  Samuel  to  the  westward  as  far  as  Green's 
Farms.  He  settled  at  Bridge  Hill,  &  soon  became  an  Inn-keeper.  Thomas  his  son,  received  the 
best  education  the  times  could  afford,  &  their  father  dying  while  Simon  &  Samuel  were  minors, 
Thomas  was  sent  by  them  to  England,  to  recover  a  large  inheritance  which  had  three  heads  to  the 
family.  But  as  at  that  time  France  &  England  were  at  war,  Thomas  was  taken  prisoner  at  sea, 
carried  to  France,  &  never  heard  from  afterwards.  His  brother  Simon  settled  on  Bridge  Hill,  & 
Samuel  settled  on  Benjamin's  Hill  &c.  This  tradition  throws  light  at  once  upon  Thomas  Couch 

who  settled  at  Weathersfield,  where  he  in.  Rebecca  d.  of  —    22.  Nov.    1666.     His   children 

were  Susannah  b.  12.  Oct  1667  ;  Simon  n.  Dec  1669  ;  Rebecca  16.  Feb.  1672  ;  &  others.  His  w. 
d.  1.  March  1672.  &  he  d.  in  1687.  in  which  year  his  second  wife  presented  the  inventory  of  his 
estate  &  the  ages  of  his  children,  which  were  as  follows  :  Hannah  13  ;  Thomas  12  ;  Mary  ir  ;  Sarah 
8  ;  Abigail  6  ;  &  Martha  3.  (Hinman's  Puritan  Settlers.)  His  s.  Thomas  was  probably  the 
nephew,  which  the  first  Simon  Couch  of  Bankside  mentions  in  his  will  ;  his  d.  Sarah  living  at 
Grummans  &  d.  Susannah  living  at  Milford,  whom  he  calls  his  cousin  is  niece. 

Samuel  Couch,  probably  nearly  connected  with  Thomas  &  Simon  of  'Weathersfield  &  Fairfield, 
settled  at  Milford,  &  in.  an  Indian  woman  named  Pity  (widow  of  one  Charles  Dealj),  who,  having 
no  relations  bequeathed  him  by  will  a  house  in  Milford  of  i  i  acres  on  an  Island  named  Milford 
or  Charle's  Island  containing  about  12  acres,  bounded  all  around  by  the  sea.  He  appears  to 
have  m.  again,  as  his  widow  Mary  offered  his  will  in  June  of  1693  for  probate  in  New  Haven.  In 
this  will  he  gave  his  estate  to  his  w.  Mary  &  his  d.  Elizabeth  Couch  of  St.  Mary  Ottary,  in  Devon- 
shire old  England  ;  &  ''  if  she  came  not  to  this  country  to  Nathaniel  Elles,  son  of  Capt.  Samuel 
Elles  of  Hingham."  Milford  T.  &  Prob.  Rec.  This  valuable  will  gives  the  birthplace  of  the 
Couch  family.  * 

DENNY 

ALDKRT  DF.MXIE,  or  Denny  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  NVakeman.  Their  children 
were  John,  bapt.  7.  Oct.  1694  ;  Grizzel  28.  Feb.  1696  ".  who  m.  Rev.  Daniel  Chapman  of  Green's 
Farms  ;  Margaret  30.  April  1696  ;  Annabel  30.  Nov.  1701  ;  James  14.  March  i7O2";i.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

*  Thomas  s.  of  Thomas  Couch  &  Elizabeth  d.  of  Edward  Jessup  were  m.  26.  Feb.  1749/50.     F.  T.  Rec. 

t  Charles  Deal  was  granted  liberty  to  purchase  this  Island  '•  that  was  Richard  Bryans,"  with  the  building 
upon  it  provided  he  used  it  only  as  a  tobacco  house.  He  was  not  to  lease  or  sell  it  without  the  approbation  of 
the  town  ;  "or — to  any  order — or  sell  to  the  Indians,  English  or  Dutch,  nor  suffer  disorderly  persons  or  seamen 
on  the  Island."— Milford  Rec.  Vol.  3.  p.  43. 


GENEALOGIES  367 

JOHN  I.  s.  of  Albert  Denny  I.  m. d.  of Their  children  were  John  bnpt.  4.  March 

1716;  Mary  n.  Dec.  1717;  Grizzel  18.  Feb.  1720;  Sarah  2.  May  1725  ;  William  23.  Oct.  1726  ; 
Thomas  5.  May  172}  &  Thomas  again  n.  Oct.  1730;  Abigail  —  April  1733.  F.  Par.  Kec. 

DIMOND 

THOMAS  DEMONT  i.,  DEMOND  or  DIMOND  settled  at  Pequonnock,  &  owned  the  homestead  of 
James  Bennet.  He  was  a  mariner,  &  his  vessel  &  cargo,  Savage  says,  was  destroyed  by  fire. 
He  was  the  owner  of  a  bark  of  12  tons,  so  say  the  F.  T.  Rec.,  in  Oct.  1658.  He  died  in  the  latter 
part  of  1658,  leaving  a  young  son  John,  who  was  apprenticed  to  Major  Gold  until  of  age,  &  thus 
became  a  member  of  his  family.  Another  brother  Thomas  was  apprenticed  to  Dr.  \V"m.  Ward 
until  of  age.  There  was  also  a  third  son  Moses.  The  name  is  spelled  in  various  ways,  but  his 
sons  spelled  it  Dymond  Demon  &  Dimond.  It  was  vulgarly  pronounced  Deming  &  Demmond. 
I  find  no  mention  of  his  wife.  T.  Rec. 

JOHN  DYMOND  settled  at  New  London  &  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  James  Bemis  of  that  place,  who 
first  m.  Tobias  Minter  of  Newfoundland  I.  April  1672.  ;  second  John  Dymond  of  Fairfield  17. 
June  1674  ;  &  third  Benedict  Satterlee  of  Killingworth  2.  Aug.  1682.  Mrs.  Sarah  Bemis.  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  John  Deymond,  was  m.  the  second  time  to  Edward  Griswold  of  Killingworth.  Sav. 
Gen.  Die. 

THOMAS  DIMOXD  2.  was  a  mariner  &  settled  at  New  London.  He  m.  22.  Sept ;  1670  Eliza- 
beth d.  of  Peter  Bradley.  His  children  were:  Elizabeth  b.  14.  Aug.  1672;  Thomas  22.  July 
1675  I  Moses  14.  May  1677  ;  Ruth  12.  Sept.  1680;  &  John  25.  July  1686.  He  died  in  1687. 
Savage's  Gen.  Die. 

MOSES  DIMOND  I.  settled  at  F.  &  pur.  1670  of  John  Purdy  of  Westchester,  the  Purdy  home- 
stead on  the  Frost  Square,  which  remained  in  the  Dimond  family  for  many  years.  He  m.  Abigail 
d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Moses,  Hester,  Grace,  also  Abigail  b.  20.  Aug.  1676 ;  Thomas 
15.  Sept.  1678.  His  will  is  dated  21.  March  1683.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  valued  at  793^", 
was  taken  16.  April  1684,  about  which  time  he  died.  He  apt.  his  loving  brethren  John  Burr  & 
Samuel  Ward,  overseers  of  his  will.  F.  T.  Rec. 

MOSES  DIMOND  2.  settled  at  F.  &  m.  —  —  d.  of Their  children  were:  Moses  b.  17 

April  169$  ;  John  17.  Nov.  1700;  Thomas  29.  Aug.  1703  ;  Ebenezer  18.  March  1704-*;  Abigail 
17.  Aug.  1707  ;  David  20.  Nov.  1709  ;  (in  which  yr.  the  father  is  called  Lieut.)  :  Damaris  24.  Aug. 
1712  ;  (this  yr.  the  father  is  called  Capt),  &  Damaris  again  31.  Oct.  1714.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

CAPT.  MOSES  DIMON  3.  was  born  4.  April  1698,  &  settled  at  Greenfield  His  w.  was  Hannah 
Gilburt  b.  29.  Dec.  1700.  They  were  m.  27.  April  1721.  He  was  one  of  the  first  deacons  of  the 
Greenfield  church  in  1726.  Their  children  were  :  +Jane  b.  II.  Aug  1722;  -t- Sarah  16  July  1724; 
+  David  5  July  1726  ;  Sarah  6.  May  1728  ;  +  Hannah  20.  April  1730  ;  x  Hannah  15.  April  1731  ; 
x  Hannah  24.  May  1733;  Moses  2.  March  I734~5 ;  Jonathan  25.  April  1738;  Dameris  23.  March 
4-I744"5;  +  Abigail  4  June  1749  &  died  soon  after.  Sarah,  Moses,  Jonathan  &  Dameris  were  the 
only  survivors  of  the  eleven  children.  G.  Par.  Rec. 

FANTON 

JONATHAN  FANTON  m.  first  Sarah  d.  of  Humphrey  Hide  i.  &  second.  Sarah  the  widow  of  Peter 
Coley  i.  Their  children  were  Sarah  bapt.  18.  Nov  1694  ;  Ellen  17.  May  1696  ;  Anne  14.  Aug 
1698  ;  Jonathan  22.  Sept  i/oo;  Mary  2.  May  1703;  John  5.  Jan  I7O6"7  ;  John  again  10.  Oct 
1708.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Jonathan  Fanton  I.  b.  22.  Aug.  1709,  m.  Mary  d.  of  —  —  Rowland  28.  Oct. 
1732.  Their  children  were  Hannah  b.  15.  July  1735;  Abigail  15.  Feb  I73&-7;  Jonathan  2.  Nov. 
1738;  Anne  2.  Nov.  1740;  Hezekiah  28.  Oct.  1743;  John  —  Jan.  1745  6;  Mary  b.  — 1751;  a 
child  not  named  bapt.  1753-  G.  II.  Far.  Rec. 


368  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

FROST 

WILLIAM  FROST  I.  settled  at  F.  in  1639.  His  home-lot  lay  on  the  s.  \v.  of  the  school  &  church 
division  of  the  Meeting-house  Green.  He  was  an  old  man  when  he  came  to  F.  of  whom  Lechford 
in  his  Plain  Dealing,  mentions  with  compassion,  &  states  that  he  was  from  Nottingham  England. 
He  was  evidently  a  man  of  good  family,  who  from  his  religious  principles,  &  perhaps  to  escape 
persecution,  had  sought  to  end  his  days  peacefully  in  New  Fngland  :  He  died  in  1645.  In  his  will 
dated  6  Jan.  1644',  he  gives  to  his  eldest  son  Daniel  2  parts  of  his  upland  &  meadow,  interest  in 
Reed  Swamps  &  Ponds,  15  acres  of  meadow  pur.  of  John  Gray  at  Munchunchosor-Sasqug,  &  his 
cloak  &  warming  pan  :  to  ds  Rebecca  &  Sarah  one  black  heifer  :  to  his  s.  Abraham  a  house  & 
land  pur.  of  John  Strickland,  his  bed  clothes,  a  little  chest  &  contents,  two  great  oxen,  two  great 
yearling  calves,  &  j  of  his  household  goods  :  to  his  d.  Elizabeth  &  her  husband  John  Gray,  a  sow 
&  her  pigs,  &  3-  part  of  his  household  goods  :  to  the  children  of  Elizabeth  Gray,  by  her  first  husband 
John  Watson,  namely  Luke  Watson  a  two  year  old  black  heifer  ;  &  to  Susanna  &  Joanna  Wat- 
son, the  profit  of  one  black  four  year  old  heifer  :  to  John  Gray's  two  children  a  red  heifer,  the  profits 
to  be  equally  divided  between  them  :  to  his  d.  Lydia  &  her  husband  Henry  Gray,  he  gave  the  use 
of  his  house  &  home  lot,  with  the  part  of  it  which  he  changed  with  John  Foster,  &  \  part  of  his 
meadow  &  upland  :  to  Mary  d.  of  Henry  Gray  one  red  heifer  :  to  his  d.  Mary  Rylie  living  in  Eng- 
land, all  his  goods  in  Old  England.  To  the  town  of  Uncowayhe  left  ten  pounds  "  towards  build- 
ing a  Meeting-house,  to  be  paid  when  it  is  half  built." 

DANIEL  i.  s.  of  William  Frost  i.  who  settled  near  his  father  in  the  Frost  Square,  sold  his 
house  &  home-lot  of  3^  acres  to  John  Banks  in  1648,  &  became  one  of  the  five  Bankside  farmers. 
His  home-lot  of  ten  acres  at  Bankside,  was  situated  on  Long  Island  Sound  on  the  east  side  of  Frost 
Point,  &  commanded  one  of  the  finest  prospects  of  that  beautiful  region  of  country.  He  m.  Eliz- 
abeth d.  of  John  Barlow.  Their  children  were  :  Rebecca  b.  1640,  who  m.  5  Jan.  1664  Simeon 
Booth  ;  Daniel  ;  Joseph  ;  Isaac  ;  Sarah  who  m.  Samuel  Smith  ;  Rachel  who  m.  Robert  Rumsey  ; 
Hannah  who  m.  John  Thorp  &  Esther  who  m.  • 

DANIEL  s.  of  Daniel  Frost  i.  m.  Mary  d.  of  Henry  Rowland.  He  was  given  by  his  father 
before  he  died  his  house  &  a  portion  of  the  home-lot  at  Bankside,  provided  he  gave  a  certain  main- 
tenance yearly  to  his  mother  during  her  life  time.  His  children  were  Isaac  bapt.  26.  Aug  1694  ; 
Rebecca  4.  July  1697.  &  William  6.  June  1700. 

Joseph  of  Bankside  s.  of  Daniel  Frost  I.  m.  Elizabeth  (b.  1652)  d.  of  Richard  Hubbell  of 
Pequonnock,  &  was  given  a  small  house  with  a  portion  of  the  home-lot  of  his  father's  at  Frost  Point, 
provided  he  also  gave  a  certain  maintenance  to  his  mother  yearly.  His  children  were  :  Isaac  bapt. 
26.  Aug  1694  ;  Abner  16.  Feb  1695^  ;  Rebecca  4.  July  1697  ;  William  16.  June  1700.  He  died  in 
1707,  in  which  year  his  estate  was  distributed.  His  widow  Elizabeth  m.  Samuel  Hull  of  F.  &  had 
children  Cornelius  &  Josiah. 

ISAAC  s.  of  Daniel  Frost  i.  died  in  1684,  in  which  year  his  will  is  probated.  He  left  his  prop- 
erty to  his  brothers  &  sisters,  &  to  the  children  of  his  sister  Mrs.  Samuel  Smith. 

GILBERT 

OBEDIAII  GILBERT  in  1670,  recorded,  that  he  had  quiet  possession  of  his  home-lot  at  F.  on  the 
Burr  Square,  for  several  years,  lying,  s.  w.  of  Jehue  Burr's  land  near  the  Old  Field  Gate.  He  m. 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Nehemiah  Olmstead  of  F.  &  died  in  1674.  In  his  will  dat.  23.  Aug.  of  the 
same  year,  he  gave  his  wife  Elizabeth  the  use  of  his  homestead  atF.  while  she  remained  his  widow  : 
-<J,£  of  his  estate,  &  2O/.  out  of  a  legacy  due  her  in  England  ;  the  remainder  of  said  legacy,  to  be 
divided  between  his  sons;  to  step  d.  Sarah  Olmstead  4.5-.  in  money  ;  to  his  three  s.  Obediah,  Benja- 
min &  Joseph  4j.  in  money  each,  &  the  remainder  of  his  estate,  when  they  each  were  twenty  one 
years  of  age  ;  to  s.  Obediah  he  gave  his  "silver  seal,''  £  made  his  loving  brethren  Jonathan  &. 


GENEALOGIES  369 

Josiah  Gilbert,  the  over-seers  of  his  estate.  His  three  s.  Obediah,  Benjamin  &  Joseph  were  bapt. 
at  F.  19,  May  1695. 

OBEDIAH  2.  s.  of  Obediah  Gilbert  I.  m.  Abigail  d.  of &  settled  at  Greenfield.  Their 

children  were  Benjamin  bapt.  19.  May  1695  ;  John  23  May  1697  ;  Elizabeth  8,  Sept.  1700  ;  x  Abigail 
II.  April  1703;  Mary  29.  April  1705  ;  x  Joseph  25.  Aug.  1706  ;  x  Abigail  15.  May  1709;  Sarah 
9.  March  1711'"  ;  Margaret  21,  April  1717.  F.  &  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

LIEUT.  BENJAMIN,  s.  of  Obediah  Gilbert  i.  m. d.  of &  settled  at  Greenfield. 

Their  children  were  Moses  bapt.  4.  Aug  1717  ;  Abigail  12.  June  1719  ;  Sarah  2.  July  1721  ;  Ben- 
jamin 14,  April  1723  ;  Elizabeth  12.  Sept.  1731.  F.  &  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

The  following  record  has  been  donated  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Payson  Gilbert  of  West  Farms, 
New  York  City. 

GILBERT,  GOULD,  AND  MALLERY 

THE  Gilbert  family  was  one  of  the  first  to  settle  in  the  now  historic  and  ancient  town 
of  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  where  even  to  this  day  some  of  that  name  may  be  found,  though  many 
of  its  representatives  are  in  other  towns  of  the  State,  and  some  in  far  distant  sections  of  our  rapidly 
growing  country. 

Obadiah  Gilbert's  son  Joseph  was,  if  we  mistake  not,  the  father  of  John  Gilbert  who  was  born 
in  Fairfield  in  1696,  and  who  died  in  1782  at  the  advanced  age  of  86  years,  leaving  four  sons — 
Thaddeus,  Ebenezer,  Joseph,  and  John,  Jr. 

The  first  named,  Thaddeus  Gilbert,  married  a  Miss  Winton  and  had  Seth,  Andrew,  Elmer, 
and  Thaddsus  ;  also  one  daughter  who  married  a  Mr.  Scribner. 

The  second  named,  Ebenezer  Gilbert,  who  was  born  March  -31st  1724,  had  three  wives  and  a 
large  posterity,  to  whom  we  will  refer  hereafter. 

The  third  named,  Joseph  Gilbert,  married  a  Miss  Bradley,  and  had  Stephen  (of  Newtown),  Reu- 
ben (of  Weston),  Lois,  who  married  a  Mr.  Robertson,  and  Abagail,  who  married  a  Mr.  Burr. 

The  fourth  named,  John  Gilbert,  married  a  Miss  Merwin,  and  had  Samuel,  Lewis,  Nathan, 
Thomas,  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  went  to  Vermont  about  1795. 

To  return,  Ebenezer  Gilbert,  was  born  March  31st  1724.  He  married  a  Miss  Northrop,  and 
had  the  following  children,  Hezekiah,  born  Dec.  1744,  resided  at  the  home  of  his  father  until  he 
was  forty  years  old  when  he  was  drowned  ;  Anna  who  married  David  Thompson  and  died  on  Long 
Island  ;  Ebenezer,  Jr.  who  was  born  June  1754,  and  David,  born  Nov  1746,  and  died  Nov  1812. 

The  latter  married  Abagail  the  daughter  of  William  Wakeley,  and  lived  on  the  borders  of 
Weston,  three  or  four  miles  from  Greenfield  Centre.  The  dwelling  which  he  occupied,  has  long 
since  disappeared,  but  the  site  is  still  identified. 

This  property,  during  the  occupancy  of  David  Gilbert,  and  the  adjoining  farm,  then  owned  by 

Mr. Seeley  was  the  scene  of  a  wonderful  and  startling  occurrence.     On  the  14th  of  Dec.  1807, 

a  ball  of  fire  nearly  the  size  of  the  moon  passed  across  the  heavens,  at  an  immense  height,  and  of 
intense  brilliancy. 

Having  passed  the  zenith  (says  Goodrich)  it  swiftly  descended  toward  the  earth.  \VhiIe  still  at 
a  great  elevation  it  burst,  with  three  successive  explosions,  into  fiery  fragments  of  stone,  many  of 
which  fell  in  the  town  of  Weston,  and  several  of  the  largest  were  found  on  the  farms  above 
described,  and  very  near  the  houses  occupied  by  David  Gilbert  and  Mr.  Seeley.  .  A  specimen  weigh- 
ing twenty-five  pounds,  may  now  be  seen  in  the  Mineralogical  Cabinet  of  Yale  College. 

David  Gilbert  had  among  others  a  son  Northrop,  who  was  born  Dec  26th  1782,  and  who  married 
Charity,  the  daughter  of  David  and  Abagail  (Hill)  Gould  of  Greenfield,  and  had  several  children, 
one  of  whom,  Clara  was  born  Sept.  Ist  1806,  and  was  married  Feby  12th  1824  to  Daniel  Mallery,  one 
of  the  leading  merchants  of  Bridgeport,  with  whom  she  subsequently  moved  to  Philadelphia.  Penna 
She  became  the  mother  of  ten  children,  three  of  whom,  Daniel,  Richard,  and  Charles,  entered  the 
24 


370  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

ministry  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  one  of  whom  Eliza,  became  the  wife  of  James  Ogdin  of 
the  United  States  Navy. 

Ebenezer  Gilbert,  above  referred  to,  on  the  death  of  his  wife,  married  Miss  P.  Burr,  and  had 
three  children,  Burr,  John,  and  Huldah.  On  the  death  of  his  second  wife  he  married,  Sept.  23rd 
1766,  Miss  Hannah  Bennet  who  bore  him,  among  other  children,  Ezra,  March  8th  1772.  The  latter 
married  Miss  Rebecca  Minor,  and  became  the  father  of  a  large  family,  including  Jerusha  Emily. 
born  Nov.  5th  1809  who  married  the  Rev.  W!n  R.  Stocking,  with  whom  she  became  a  Missionary  of 
the  American  Board  in  Persia,  and  Rev.  \Vm  H.  Gilbert  who  is  now  Secretary  of  the  Connecticut 
Bible  Society. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  Gilberts,  many  years  ago  intermarried  with  a  Fairfield  family, 
no  less  distinguished,  by  the  name  of  Gold,  or  Gould,  as  it  is  now  generally  written. 

He  died  Oct  3d  1723  aged  60  years,  leaving  among  other  sons  Onesimus,  whose  home  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Greenfield.  There  was  born  to  him  a  son,  David,  whose  daughter  Charity  Gould  married 
Northrop  Gilbert,  and  bore  Clara,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Mallery,  named  above. 

GOLD 

GOLD,  GOULD — NATHAN  GOLD  came  from  St.  Edmundsbury  in  South  Britain.  He 
pur.  land  at  Milford  Ct.  in  1647  (Milford  T.  R<:c.  Vol.  I.  /.  101.)  On  the  12.  Dec.  1649 
he  "  pur.  George  Hubbard's  dwelling-house  &  home-lot  at  Milford,  &  all  his  upland  &  meadow, 
with  all  the  appurtenances  thereto  belonging."  On  the  31.  of  Dec.  following,  he  sold  the  above 
purchase  to  John  Streame,  &  re-moved  to  Fairfield.  Here  he  first  pur.  John  Foster's  homestead 
on  the  Frost  Square,  which  he  sold  to  Thomas  Sherwood  15.  Dec.  1653.  He  next  pur.  of  Alex- 
ander Bryan,  Richard  Perry's  homestead  on  the  Newton  Square  S.  Dec.  1653  ;  &  also  Edmund 
Harvey's  homestead  on  then.  e.  of  sd  Newton's  lot.  On  the  30.  Nov.  1653,  he  pur.  Thomas  New- 
ton's homestead,  lying  between  Richard  Perry's  &  the  parsonage  land  ;  &  through  Alexander 
Bryan  sold  it  to  Dr.  Thomas  Pell  9.  Feb  1653^  He  next  pur.  II.  May  1654,  Rodger  Ludlow's 
homestead  &  home-lot  of  six  acres  oh  the  n.  e.  corner  of  the  Ludlow  Square  ;  &  also  Ludlow's 
pasture  lot,  at  the  present  time  occupied  by  Mrs.  Abraham  Benson,  the  widow  of  a  Revolutionary 
officer.  The  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not  known.  His  second  wife  was  Martha  wid.  of  Edmund 
Harvey  of  F.  His  name  is  mentioned  in  the  Connecticut  Royal  Charter  of  1662.  lie  died  4- 
March  1694,  greatly  revered  &  beloved  by  the  people  of  the  town  ;  &  honored  throughout  Conn. 
New  England,  &  in  fact  throughout  the  country  for  his  Christian  character,  sterling  worth,  &  great 
usefulness.  Ilis  will  is  dated  I.  March  ]/>93"1,  in  which  he  gave  to  his  "  only  &  well  beloved  son 
Nathan  "  his  home  lot  &  new  house,  buildings  &  fences,  bd.  s.  w.  by  the  home  stead  of  Nathaniel 
Burr,  &  on  all  other  sides  with  highways  ;  also  the  opposite  pasture-lot  with  buildings  &  accom- 
modations, &  the  house  he  built  for  him  on  this  land,  with  2}-  acres  adjoining  ;  \  of  his  building 
lot  in  the  woods  ;  ?.£  of  his  long-lot,  &  %  of  his  interest  in  the  Perpetual  Common,  &  other  lands  ; 
one  horse,  a  yoke  of  oxen,  cart,  plow,  &  carpenter's  tools,  &  all  stock  &  other  estate,  which  he  had 
previously  given  him  ;  also  his  Bible,  wearing-apparel,  arms,  ammunition  &  staff,  &  his  farm  in  the 
woods,  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Saugatuck  River.  To  his  four  ds.  viz  :  Sarah  wife  of  John 
Thompson  of  F.,  Deborah  w.  of  George  Clark  of  Milford,  Abigail  w.  of  Jonathan  Selleck  of 
Stamford  &  d  Martha  widow  of  John  Selleck,  he  gave  the  remainder  of  his  estate,  to  be  equally 
divided  among  them.  Dr.  Josiah  Harvey  of  F.  in.  an  elder  d  of  Major  Nathan  Gold,  who  died 
childless  before  her  father.  Martha  was  the  widow  of  John  Selleck,  another  s.  of  Jonathan 
Selleck  i,*  who  died  before  Major  Nathan  Gold.  Martha  next  m.  16  April  1695,  the  Rev.  John 

*  The  will  of  Jonathan  Selleck  i.  of  Stamford,  who  m.  Abaigail  d.  of  Richard  Law  of  the  same  place,  is  dated 
21.  Dec.  1713,  &  mentions  his  grand-son  Gold  Selleck  s.  of  his  s.  John  ;  a  d.  of  Abigail  who  m.  Jacob  Moore  of 
New  York  &  her  s.  Jacob  ;  gives  his  books  to  the  Rev.  John  Davenport  of  Stamford  ;  &  the  remainder  of  his 
estate  to  his  grandson  Nathan  Selleck.  Jonathan  Selleck  i.  survived  his  wife  &  sons. 


GENEALOGIES  3/1 

Davenport  of  Stamford  who  "  was  born  in  Boston  23.  Feb.  1669,  &  was  the  s.  of  John  Davenport 
Esqr.  the  only  s.  of  Rev.  John  Davenport,  the  ecclesiastical  founder  of  New  Haven.  He  grad.  at 
II.  C.  in  1687,  &  commenced  preaching  in  1690.  By  Martha  Gold  Selleck  he  had  seven  children 
viz:  "  Abigail  who  m.  Rev.  Stephen  Williams  D.D.  of  Springfield,  &  became  the  mother  of  an 
illustrious  family ;  John  of  New  Canaan  ;  Martha  who  m.  Rev.  Thomas  Goodsell  of  Brandford ; 
Sarah  who  first  m.  Capt.  William  Maltbie  of  New  Haven,  £  second  Rev.  Eleazer  Wheelock 
D.D.,  the  founder  &  first  president  of  Dartmouth  College;  and  thus  became  the  ancestress  of  a 
talented  &  noble  lineage  ;  Theodore  who  d.  early ;  Deacon  Deodate  of  East  Haven  ;  &  Elizabeth 
who  m.  the  Rev.  William  Gaylord  of  Wilton,  Conn.  Mrs.  Martha  Davenport  d.  I.  Dec.  1712." 
Her  death  was  deemed  no  ordinary  event,  as  attested  by  the  extraordinary  record  of  it  found  in 
Book  I.  p.  no  of  Stamford  T.  Rec.  as  follows:  "That  eminently  Pious  &  virtuous,  Grave  & 
whorthily  much  Lamented  Matron  Mrs.  Martha  Davenport,  Late  wife  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  John 
Davenport,  Pastor  of  ye  Church  of  Christ  in  Stamford.  Laid  down  or  exchanged  Her  mortal  or 
temporall  Life,  to  putt  on  Immortality  &  to  be  crowned  with  Immortal  Glory  ;  on  ye  Ist  Day  of 
Decemb.  1712."  Mr.  Davenport  next  m.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Maltby  d.  of  John  Morris,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children  ;  Hon.  Abraham  £  Rev.  James  Huntington's  Hist.  Stamford,  p.  270. 

LIEUT.  Gov.  NATHAN  GOLD  2.  s.  of  Major  Nathan  Gold  i.  m.  Hannah  d.  of  Col.  John  Tal- 
cott  2.  of  Hartford,  &  sister  of  the  great  lawyer,  John  Read  of  Boston.  His  children  were  Abi- 
gail b.  14.  Feb.  1687,  who  m.  Rev.  Thomas  Hawley  of  Ridgefield,  Conn.  8.  Nov.  1738  ;  John  b. 
25.  April  1688,  who  m.  Hannah  Slawson  ;  Hezekiah  (birth  not  recorded)  grad.  at  H.  C.  in  1719, 
m.  Mary  Ruggles,  &  became  a  minister  at  Stratford,  where  he  d.  22.  April  1761 ;  Nathan  6.  April 
1690  ;  Samuel  27.  Dec.  1692  (F.  T.  Rec.)  ;  Sarah  bapt.  23.  July  1696  ;  Sarah  again  bapt.  3.  March 
i699LIQa  !  Onesimus  bapt.  19.  Oct.  1701  ;  David  bapt.  3.  Dec.  1704  ;  Martha  bapt.  8  Feb.  1707- 
(at  which  time  the  father  is  called  the  Worshipful  Nathan  Goldi,  &  Joseph,  b.  21.  Oct.  1711.  Lieut 
Gov.  Nathan  Gold  died  the  31.  Oct.  1723,  when  but  sixty  years  of  age.  His  tomb-stone,  well  pre- 
served, is  in  the  Burial  Hill  Cemetery.  His  will  is  dated  13.  Sept  1723.  (Superior  Court  Rec.  Hart- 
ford, Vol.  3^  p.  545-6)  in  which  he  gives  his  eldest  s.  John  a  double  portion  of  his  estate  ;  to  s.  Samuel 
one  single  share,  including  what  he  had  already  given  him  ;  to  s.  Hezekiah  "  y>£,  over  &  above  what 
he  had  expended  upon  his  learning  ;  "  to  son-in-law  Rev.  Thomas  Hawley,  of  Ridgefield,  who  had 
m.  his  d.  Abigail  100^.  besides  her  mar.  dower  :  to  d.  Martha  (who  m  Samuel  Sherman)  2oq£  ; 
to  sons  Onesimus,  David  &  Joseph  one  single  portion  of  his  estate. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Lieut  :  Gov  :  Nathan  Gold  m.  Hannah  Slawson  Their  children  were  Hannah 
b.  20.  Sept.  1716  ;  Sarah  bapt.  I.  June  1718;  John  bapt.  29.  May  1720;  Nathan  bapt.  2.  Feb 
I7231  ;  Elizabeth  bapt.  24.  April  1726  ;  Talcott  bapt.  i.  Sept.  1728  ;  Mary  bapt.  6.  June  1731  ; 
Jemima  bapt.  18.  June  1738.  F.  Par.  Rec.  John  Gold  lived  in  the  Frost  Homestead.  He  died 
the  23.  Sept.  1766,  in  the  79'^  year  of  his  age.  His  tomb-stone  is  in  the  Burial  Hill  Cemetery. 
He  probably  m.  twice  the  second  wife,  perhaps,  a  d.  of  Rev.  Thomas  Hawley  of  Ridgefield. 

NATHAN  3  s.  of  Nathan  Gold  2.  m. d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Catee  bapt.  25. 

Sept.  172^,  (who  m.  Jacob  Levitt  18.  Oct.  1742)  ;  Ann  4.  Feb.  1727-  ;  Nathan  ;  &  Martha  24. 
May  1730.  Martha  m.  David  Hubbell  5.  Feb.  1753.  F.  Par.  Rec.  Through  this  m.  of  David 
Hubbell  &  Martha  Gold,  the  homestead  of  Roger  Ludlow  &  Major  Nathan  Gold,  passed  into  the 
Hubbell  family. 

SAMUEL  s.  of  Nathan  Gold  2.  m.  Esther  d.  of  —  —  Bradley.  Their  children  were  Hester 
bapt.  S.  Nov.  1719:  Abigail  24.  May  1724;  Abel  17.  Sept.  1727;  Abraham  18.  Oct.  1730; 
Abraham  again  14.  May  1732.  F.  Par.  Rec.  Samuel  Gold  pr.  the  present  Gould  Homestead  at 
F.  now  occupied,  (1888.)  by  the  three  d's  of  the  late  Hon.  John  Gould.  Samuel  Gould  died  n. 
Oct.  1769. 

ONESIMUS  s.  of  Nathan  Gold  2  m.  Eunice  d.  of  —  —  £  settled  at  Greenfield.  Their  children 
were  Rebecca  bapt.  4.  Oct.  1/24,  at  F. ;  Nathan  17  Sept.  1726;  David  22.  Oct  1728;  Luther 


372  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

10.  Oct.  1631  ;  Eunice,  Aug  1733  ;  Stephen,  May  1736  ;  Sarah,  21.  Aug.  1737  ;  Aaron,  25.  Jan  1740. 
G.  II.  Par.  Kcc. 

JOSEPH  s.  of  Nathan  Gold  2.  m.  Abigail  d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Hannah  bapt.  22. 

June  1740  ;  John  21.  Aug.  1755.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

The  Golds  did  not  add  the  u.  to  their  name  until  about  1806  ;  when  Jason  Gold  introduced  it. 

THE  GODFREE  OR  GODFREY  FAMILY 

According  to  a  tradition  in  the  Godfrey  family  of  Green's  Farms,  the  original  settlers  of  that 
brancli  of  the  family  in  New  England  were  from  Normandy  ;  that  from  their  native  country  they 
first  went  to  Greenwich  England,  &  from  there  to  the  United  States.  Christopher  Godfree  first 
purchased  land  at  Compo  in  1686,  one  year  after  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  which 
leads  to  the  conclusion  that  perhaps  he  was  one  of  the  French  or  Norman  Refugees. 

The  late  Hon.  Jonathan  Godfrey,  his  sister  Mrs.  Elsey  Parker,  &  Joseph  &  Abraham  Godfrey, 
sons  of  the  late  Edward  Godfrey  of  Ridgefield,  Ct.  all  give  the  same  tradition.  They  have  also 
often  spoken  about  their  connection  with  the  Taunton  &  Cape  Cod  branches  of  the  Godfrey  family, 
&  said  that  they  early  called  each  other  cousins.  As  yet  no  record  has  been  found  making  the 
connecting  link  between  these  families.  Once  only  is  the  name  of  Richard  Godfrey  found  in  the 
Green's  Farm's  Parish  Records,  where  it  is  recorded  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ripley,  that  "  Capt.  Richard 
Godfrey  died  of  appoplexy  19.  Dec.  1809  in  the  61'?  year  of  his  age."  As  the  name  of  Richard  is 
not  among  the  Christian  names  of  the  Green's  Farm's  Godfreys,  the  conclude  is  that  Capt.  Richard 
Godfrey  was  one  of  the  Taunton  branch,  &  was  visiting  his  cousins  at  Green's  Farms  when  he 
died. 

A  very  interesting  account  of  the  Taunton  Godfreys,  is  to  be  found  in  Contributions  Biograph- 
ical, Genealogical  &  Historical,  by  E.  W.  Pierce.  lie  traces  a  highly  honorable  descent  from 
Richard  Godfrey,  who  settled  in  Taunton  as  early,  if  not  before  1652.  Many  of  this  family  dis- 
tinguished themselves  in  the  French  &  Indian  Wars  &  in  the  Revolution.  General  George  God- 
frey of  Taunton  "  retained  the  command  of  the  Bristol  Co.  Brigade  until  1781,  for  a  term  of  about 
five  years."  There  were  also  several  distinguished  physicians  in  the  family.  They  all  appear  to 
have  been  men  of  influence  &  spirit. 

The  name  of  Godfrey  is  an  historical  one.  The  Latin  motto  "  Deus  et  Libertas,"  which  we 
find  under  one  of  the  Godfrey  coat  of  arms,  is  one  which  indicates  that  the  family  fought  the 
battles  of  God  &  freedom.  In  Saxon  the  name  signifies  at  peace  with  God,  in  which  alone  is  true 
freedom.  The  name  is  early  spelled  in  the  V.  T.  R.  Godfree. 

The  first  name  of  this  family  at  Green's  Farms  or  Compo,  was  that  of  Christopher  Godfree. 
His  name  appears  in  Letter  A.  of  F.  T.  D.,  where  it  is  recorded,  that  Christopher  Godfree  on  the 
29.  Dec  1686  purchased  Seargt.  Richard  Hubbells'  dividends  of  Compo  lands.  He  also  after- 
wards improved  town  lands,  which  were  eventually  granted  him.  On  the  31.  July  1695  he 
purchased  of  James  Newton,  about  twenty-five  acres  of  land  at  Green's  Farms,  in  the  woods  at 
Benjamins'  hill,  which  commanded  a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  Long  Island 
Sound  &  the  Norwalk  Islands,  "being  the  whole  of  a  pasture  &  building  lot  laid  out  to  Robert 
Beacham  dec." 

The  next  we  find  of  his  family  is  in  the  Parish  Record  of  Christ's  Church,  Fairfield,  where  it 
is  recorded  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Webb,  that  on  the  17.  July  1697  Anne  Godfrey  (wife  of  Christo- 
pher Godfrey),  renewed  her  Covenant  with  the  Church. 

On  the  17.  July  1698  Christopher  &  Samuel,  sons  of  Christopher  Godfrey,  &  Elizabeth,  Mary 
&  Abigail,  daughters  of  Christopher  Godfrey,  were  baptixed. 

John  son  of  Christopher  Godfrey  I.  was  baptz.  23,  April  1699. 

Isaac,  son  of  the  above  Christopher,  was  baptz.  14.  Fob  1703. all  by  the  Rev.  Joseph 

Webb. 


GENEALOGIES  373 

These  same  names  appear  in  the  settlement  of  the  estate  of  Christopher  Godfrey,  who  died  in 
the  year  1715.  Having  died  intestate,  his  widow  Anne,  which,  on  the  town  records  is  spelled 
Ann,  was  appointed  by  the  Court  to  administer  with  his  son  Samuel  on  his  estate,  "  in  the  recogni- 
zance of  one  hundred  pounds  cash  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty."  In  the  final  settlement 
of  the  estate  5.  June  1718,  it  amounted  to  £2~3-  2S-  I(J- 

CHRISTOPHER  2.  s.  of  Christopher  Godfrey  I.  in.  u  Feb.  1711,  Margery  d.  of  John  Sturges 
2,  s.  of  John  Sturges  i.  of  F.  Their  children  were  David  b.  20.  Feb.  1713  ;  Stephen  8.  Sept. 
1715  ;  Nathan  25.  Sept.  1719  ;  Eleazer  15.  March  1721  ;  Isaac  25.  Dec.  1724  ;  Ebenezer  27.  June 
1727. 

CHRISTOPHER  GODFREY  d.  20.  Aug.  1758.  Margery  Godfrey  d.  20  Aug.  1759.  F.  T.  Rec. 
of  Births',  Deaths'  &  Marriages'. 

DEACON  DAVID  i.,  s.  of  Christopher  Godfrey  2.  m.  24.  June  1738,  Mary  d.  of  Daniel  Silli- 
man.  Their  children  were  :  Daniel  b.  20.  March  1739  !  Ann  16.  May  1740  ;  David  I.  Sept  1743  ; 
Silliman  i.  May  1750,  &  was  a  Lieut,  in  the  Revolution.  Mary  24.  Feb.  1752  ;  Jonathan  i.  23, 
Dec.  1754  ;  Sarah  12.  Feb.  1/57. 

David  Godfrey  i.  was  one  of  the  Deacons  of  the  Green's  Farms'  church. 

ELEAZER  i.  s  of  Christopher  Godfrey  2.  m.  Rachel  d.  of  —  —  Bennet  21.  Jan.  1749.  Their 
children  were:  Isaac  bapt.  29.  Nov.  1749;  &  m.  8.  Feb.  1798,  Abigail  Couch  of  Xorthfield,  Ct. 
Moses  b.  10.  June  1750;  Eleazer  31.  Oct  1756. 

STEPHEN  s.  of  Christopher  Godfrey  2.  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Lewis,   n.  June  1739.     Their 

children  were  :  Sarah  b.  17,  May  1741,  &  m.  7.  Feb.  1759,  John  Hurlburt  of  Westport,  Ct. 
Nathan  30.  April  1743  ;  Stephen  4.  Oct.  1745  ;  Betty  16.  Feb.  1747,  &  m.  3.  March  1763  Eben 
Lewis. 

LIEUT.  NATHAN  i.  s.  of  Christopher  2.  &    Margery  Sturgis  Godfrey  m.   Martha  d.   of  — 
Couch  ii.  June  1747.     Their  children  were  :  Abraham  b.  13.  March  1748  ;  Martha  24.  May  1752; 

&  m.    John  Burr  iS.  Oct.    1772.      Nathan   19.   Aug.  1754  ;   Benjamin  b ,  &  d.  in  the  army  at 

Albany,  N.  Y.  in  1776.  Molly  bapt.  20.  Aug.  1758  ;  &  m.  Seymour  Lockwood  of  Norwalk  14. 
Sept.  1795  ;  who  was  the  grand-father  of  the  late  Le  Grand  Lockwood  of  Norwalk,  Ct. 

Martha  wife  of  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey  d.  31  May  1761. 

2ucl  wife  of  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey,  whom  he  m.  9.  Nov.  1764,  was  Sarah*  d.  of  Jonathan 
Andrews,  &  wicl.  of  Jonathan  Nash  2.  Their  children  were  :  Rhoda  bapt.  18.  Aug.  1765  ;  m. 

Morris  &  moved  to  Ohio.     Jonathan  2.  bapt.  1766.      Esther   17.    Sept.    1769  ;   Ebenezer 

17.  March  1772  ;  Andrews  14.  April  1776. 

LIEUT.  NATHAN  GODFREY  was  commissioned  a  Lieutenant  of  Capt.  Whiting's  company,  in  the 
first  attack  made  on  Ticonderoga  in  1756.  He  was  one  of  the  most  influential  &  wealthy  men  of 
Green's  Farms.  His  homestead,  which  stood  near  the  summit  of  Clapboard-hill  was  burned  by 
the  British  in  1779 — See  Centennial  Commemoration  of  the  Burning  of  Fairfield  in  1879. 

JONATHAN  2..s.  of  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey  m.  Esther  d.  of—  —  Whitehead  30.  Nov.  1788. 
Their  children  were  :  Nathan  bapt.  I.  Oct.  1789,  m.  Catharine  Brown  of  Norwalk,  Ct.,  Abel  27. 
Nov.  1791.  d.  iSn  unmarried  ;  Ebenezer  7.  July  1793,  &  d.  30.  Sept.  1807  ;  Elsey  b.  30.  Oct. 
1796.  m.  Samuel  Parker,  &  d.  27.  July  1882  ;  Jonathan  3.  b.  2.  June  1798,  d.  3.  Aug.  1882  ;  Seth 
bapt.  24.  March  1802.  m.  Eliza  Cox  of  New  York. 

Esther  wife  of  Jonathan  Godfrey  2.  d.  24  March  1803.  2.  wife  of  Jonathan  Godfrey  2.  was 
Huldah  Parsons,  whom  he  m.  26.  Oct.  1803.  Their  children  were:  Esther,  Eliza,  Mary,  Ebenezer, 
Simon,  Ann,  &  Frederick. 

*  Sarah  the  wife  of  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey  had  the  following  children  by  her  first  husband  Jonathan  Nash  2. 
Sarah  b.  17.  Jan.  1755  ;m.  Thomas  Couch  of  Reading,  Ct.  Elizabeth  3.  Oct.  1756;  d.  i.  March  1775  ;  Eleanor 
14.  Jan.  1758  ;  m.  Simon  Couch  of  Reading,  Ct.  a  brother  of  the  above  Thomas  C. 

Sarah  Nash  Godfrey  was  also  the  great  grand-mother  of  Gen.  D.  N.  Couch  of  Norwalk,  Ct. 
Jonathan  Nash  2.  was  the  grand-father  of  the  late,  distinguished  Dr.  Nash  of  Bridgeport,  Ct. 


374  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

JONATHAN  3.  s.  of  Jonathan  Godfrey  2.  &  grandson  of  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey,  b.  2.  June 
1798,  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Aaron  &  Elizabeth  Hubbell  of  Southporl,  Ct.  19.  Jan.  1823.  Their 
children  were,  Elizabeth,  Harriet,  both  of  whom  d.  young.  Jonathan  4  (a  clergyman,  in  the 
Episcopal  church);  Elizabeth  Hubbell,  (the  author  of  the  History  of  Fairfield),  who  m.  Adrian 
V.  S.  Schenck,  s.  of  the  late  Dr.  Ferdinand  S  Schenck  of  New  Jersey  ;  Samuel  H.  who  m.  Harriet 
A.  Godfrey,  d.  of  Edward  Godfrey  Esqr.  of  Ridgefield,  Ct. ,  and  Mary  Catherine,  who  m.  Calvin 
G.  Child  of  Norwich,  Ct. 

The  above  Jonathan  Godfrey  3.  was  a  man  of  influence  both  in  church  &  state.  He  d.  3.  Aug. 
1882,  esteemed  &  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  for  his  honorable  name  &  many  charities. 

GRAY 

JOHN  GRAY,  who  first  settled  at  Lynn,  Mass.  &  m.  before  May  1639  Elizabeth  d.  of  William 
Frost  i.,  &  widow  of  John  Watson  of  Boston,  sold  his  home-lot  at  Lynn  in  Aug.  of  the  same  year, 
&  probably  accompanied  his  father-in-law  to  Uncoway,  before  the  28.  of  Sept.  following.  He  was 
granted  2\  acres  on  the  s.  w.  of  the  Frost  Square,  which  he  sold  a  few  years  after  to  Alexander 
Bryan,  who  re-sold  it  to  Henry  Rowland  i.  18.  March  1649.  He  probably  moved  to  Long  Island, 
as  his  name  is  mentioned  there,  in  Thompson's  Hist,  of  L.  I.  He  no  doubt  had  other  children, 
besides  the  two  mentioned  without  Christian  names,  in  William  Frost's  will  :  but  of  him  I  find  no 
more. 

HENRY  GRAY  2.,  found  in  the  F.  Par.  Rec.,  was  probably  a  son  of  John  i.  He  in.  —  —  d. 
of  —  Their  children  were  :  Isaac,  Henry,  William  &  David,  all  bapt.  30.  April  1699  ;  also 

Deborah  &  Mary  bapt.  25.  June  1704;  Samuel  &  Martha  bapt.  C.  March  1714  K).  F.  Par. 
Rec. 

HENRY  GRAY  i,  a  brother  of  the  above  John  i.  settled,  at  Boston,  where  he  had  a  house-lot 
granted  J2.  Feb.  1639.  In  an  instrument  executed  7.  Sept.  1639,  ne  's  described  as  "now  of  Boston, 
hitherto  citizen  &  merchant  of  London."  [Lechford's  manuscript  Journal.]  Soon  after  Sept.  1639, 
he  m.  Lydia  d.  of  William  Frost  i.,  &  joined  his  father-in-law  at  F.  in  1640,  lived  with  him,  & 
received  the  use  of  his  homestead  after  his  death,  which  was  entailed  to  his  son  Jacob  Gray.  He 
appears  to  have  been  rather  wild  for  a  time,  but  soon  settled  down,  &  became  a  useful  member 
of  society.  He,  with  John  Green,  became  security  for  Thomas  Newton,  in  his  troubles  at  F.  in 
1648  ;  &  was  fined  2OS  in  1650,  for  speaking  his  mind  to  the  Court.  He  afterwards  became  a 
deputy  to  the  Gen.  Ct.  in  1656  &  57.  from  F.  He  was  one  of  the  Bankside  planters  &  died  in 
1658.  He  probably  had  other  children  besides  Jacob,  which  I  do  not  find. 

JACOII  s.  of  Henry  Gray  i.,  lived  for  a  while  in  his  grand-father  Frost's  homestead.  In  1662, 
there  is  a  record  of  a  pledge,  entered  in  A.  of  F.  T.  D.,  which  he  gave  to  his  uncle  Daniel  F'rost 
&  Cornelius  Hull,  that  he  would  not  sell  his  grand-father  Frost's  homestead.  He  did  sell  this 
place  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman  a  few  years  after  ;  &  on  21.  Dec.  1683  pur.  of  said  Wakeman 
li  acres  on  the  s.  w.  end  of  the  home-lot  that  was  formerly  Ephraim  Wheeler's,  bounded  s.  e.  by 
John  Thompson's,  s.  w.  &  n.  w.  highways,  &  s.  e.  by  said  Wakeman's  land.  On  the  21. 
Aug  1685,  he  sold  a  rood  &  3.1  rods  in  breadth  of  this  lot  to  Peter  Bulkley.  In  Feb.  1707-'* 
he  is  found  at  Greenfield,  or  in  the  Mile  of  Common,  where  he  lived  on  two  acres  next  adjoin- 
ing to  his  s.  Jacob's  homestead.  He  m.  Sarah d.  of Their  children  were  Mehitable; 

Rebecca  b.  i.  Jan.  1670  ;  Sarah  9  Oct.  1677  ;  &  Jacob.  He  died  early  in  1712  £  his  s.  Jacob 
&  widow  Sarah  administered  upon  his  estate,  which  was  distributed  3.  March  of  that  year.  He 
had  already  given  to  his  d.  Mehitable  as  her  marriage  portion,  II  acres  of  the  front  of  his  long-lot 
17.  April  1690.  The  distribution  of  his  estate  is  made  by  his  widow  Sarah  &hiss.  Jacob  Feb. 
1707-".  His  d.  Sarah  m.  Samuel  Umberfield  of  New  Haven,  &  had  children  Sarah  b.  2.  April 
1695  ;  Ann  28.  April  1700;  John  15.  March  1702  ;  Thomas  8.  Feb.  1705  ;  Eliza  27.  Oct.  1708  ; 
Esther  12.  Sept  1710;  Mary  28.  Aug.  1714;  David  16.  Aug.  1716.  Savage's  Gen.  Die. 


GENEALOGIES  375 

JACOB  2.  s.  of  Jacob  Gray  I.  entered  into  covenant  with  the  G-  H.  P.  5.  June  1712.  He  m. 

Hannah cl.  of Their  children  were  :  +  Nathaniel,  Sarah,  John,  James,  Jacob,  Rebecca 

&  Eunice,  all  bapt.  by  the  Rev.  John  Goodsell  12.  June  1726;  &  Mary  bapt.  March  1728'". 
G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

A  branch  of  the  Gray  family  settled  at  Westport,  where  the  name  is  still  to  be  found.  In  the 
Parish  Records,  the  name  is  sometimes  spelled  Grey.  It  is  highly  probable  that  the  first  John  & 
Henry  Gray  were  the  sons  of  John  Gray  of  London,  mentioned  in  George  Ludlow's  will.  The  T. 
&  Par.  Rec's.  of  F.  £  G.  H.,  furnish  the  earliest  records  of  this  family. 

GREEN 

JOHN  GREEN,  who  was  made  a  freeman  9.  Oct.  1662,  was  an  early  settler  at  F.  where  he  was 
granted  a  home-lot  from  the  town,  of  three  acres  on  the  n.  w.  of  the  Frost  Square,  lying  between 
Daniel  Frost's  &  Henry  Whelplcy's.  He  with  Hemy  Gray  gave  200^.  security  in  1648  for  Thomas 
Newton,  in  an  action  between  said  Newton  &  Jonas  Wood.  He  ran  a  grist  mill  for  the  town,  a 
little  above  Thomas  Sherwood's  on  Mill  River.  He  sold  his  homestead  at  F.  in  1648  to  Simon 
Hoyt,  &  removed  to  Bankside,  where  he  took  up  a  home-lot  of  ten  acres,  lying  west  of  Francis 
Andrews.  He  also  owned  seven  acres  between  Sherwood's  Island  &  the  Little  Islands,  &  other 
parcels  of  land,  which  were  given  the  name  of  Greens  farms,  which  name  in  the  course  of  time 
superseded  that  of  Bankside.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  energy  &  enterprise  ;  one  of  those 
sterling  characters,  specially  adapted  to  a  pioneer  life.  He  was  a  large  land  holder  in  the  town, 
sharing  in  all  the  land  dividends.  His  long-lot  lay  east  of  Francis  Andrews,  which  formed  the  west 
boundary  of  the  town,  near  the  Saugatuck  river.  His  testimony  before  witnesses  as  to  the  early 
settlers  of  F.  is  of  great  value.  In  a  deed  dated  24.  June  1699,  he  gave  his  negro  Harry  his  free- 
dom after  his  decease  ;  provided  said  Harry  served  five  years  to  any  master  of  his  own  choosing  for 
2O;£  ,  which  20^.  was  to  be  added  to  his  estate,  as  part  pay  for  his  sons'  education  &  for  board  to 
his  father-in-law  Hobbey.  One  half  of  this  2o£.  was  to  be  paid,  when  half  of  the  five  years  had 
expired,  &  the  other  half  at  the  expiration  of  the  five  years,  £  then  "  ye  said  negro  which  is  now 
my  negro  shall  be  a  free  negro,  £  his  own  man  for  himself."  He  gave  said  Harry  a  horse  &  the 
violin  "  he  calleth  his." 

He  died  intestate  about  1703,  leaving  widow  Hannah  ;  but  the  T.  Rec.  are  silent  as  to  his 
family.  His  son  John  appears  to  have  inherited  the  most  of  his  estate  atF. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Green  i.  m.  d.  of Their  children  were  John  &  Hannah  bapt. 

at  F.,i6  Sept.  1705.  F.  Par.  Rec.  He  probably  removed  to  Long  Island,  as  I  find  no  more  of 
him,  or  of  his  father's  descendants. 

GRUMMAN 

JOHN  GRUMMAN  was  made  a  freeman  of  F.  in  1664.  He  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Michael  Try.  In 
his  will  dated  2.  June  1685,  he  mentions  the  following  children  John  ;  Samuel  ;  Thomas  ; 
Michael  ;  £  Sarah  who  m.  Samuel  Jennings  ;  &  was  granted  a  home-lot  n  w  of  John  Bank's  first 
home-lot  near  Hyde's  Pond.  &  Abigail  b.  in  1685.  He  left  4,^  to  Thomas  Oliver  of  F. 

John  2.  s.  of  John  Grumman  i.  m.  Esther  d.  of  Richard  Lyon.  Their  children  were  Thomas 
&  Samuel  bapt.  16.  Sept  1694;  Esther,  Silenne,  Thankful  &  John  bapt.  5,  July  1713;  Eliza- 
beth 4.  Aug.  1717.  F.  T.  &  Par.  Rec. 

HALL 

FRANCIS  HALL  was  in  the  list  of  those  who  subscribed  to  the  fundamental  agreement  4.  June 
1639,  at  the  gathering  of  the  church  at  New  Haven.  He  is  represented  to  have  been  a  son  of 
Gilbert  Hall  of  Kent,  England,  &  was  himself  of  Milford,  Surry  Co.  He  came  to  America  with 
his  brother  William  who  settled  at  Guilford.  In  1641  the  Gen.  Ct  of  New  Haven  ordered,  "that 


376  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

he  should  have  liberty  to  dispose  of  the  children  which  he  brought  out  with  him,  until  the  Court 
had  light  to  dispose  otherwise  of  them,  provided  that  they  were  well  looked  unto  &  well  used." 
He  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  before  Governor  Eaton  on  the  I.  July  1644.  In  1647,  having  been 
warned  with  Thomas  Pell,  John  Thompson  &  others  to  appear  at  Court,  which  he  failed  to  do, 
"  though  the  Court  sat  a  good  space  of  time."  orders  were  given  that  he  with  the  others  should  be 
warned  to  the  next  court  for  neglect.  The  children  referred  to  above,  were,  John  &  Thomas 
\Vhitehcad,  who  had  been  sent  out  from  England  under  the  care  of  Francis  Hall,  to  their  Uncle 
Thomas  Allcote  of  Roxbury  "  in  the  Bay."  The  Uncle  died  before  their  arrival,  &  Hall  excused 
himself  before  the  Court  for  any  blame  attached  to  him,  he  having  been  at  the  expense  of  their 
voyage  &c.,  &  that  upon  making  an  effort  he  failed  to  find  their  Uncle,  &  had  submitted  the  case 
to  the  Court,  which  had  placed  Thomas  Whitehead  with  Mathias  Hitchcock,  but  he  had  kept  John 
himself  "  until  they  might  have  further  light  to  dispose  of  them."  The  Court  "  having  pity  upon 
them,  seeing  they  were  so  small, "  &  being  desirous  that  they  should  have  no  wrong  done  them 
debated  long  upon  the  subject.  Mathias  Hitchcock,  having  put  Thomas  Whitehead  out  to  David 
Atwater,  which  he  had  no  right  to  do,  it  was  decided  that  the  boy,  at  his  own  request,  should, 
remain  with  Mr.  Atwater,  until  he  should  hear  from  his  Uncle.  Mr  Atwater  &  the  Court  agreed 
that  he  should  have  three  pounds  a  year,  meat,  drink  &  clothes  &  finally  set  him  free.  N.  H.  Col. 
Rcc.  Savage  says  he  was  at  Stratford  after  1648.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  of  the  Connecticut 
Colony  21.  May  1657,  but  was  at  Fairfield  earlier,  where  he  owned  a  farm,  called  Hall's  farm  lying 
s.  e.  of  the  Newton  Square.  He  owned  land  at  Greenlea,  &  shared  in  the  land  dividends  of  the 
town.  His  first  wife  Elizabeth  accompanied  him  from  England,  &  died  6.  July  1665,  leaving  sons 
Francis  (who  died  5.  March  1690)  &  Samuel  ;  &  clau's.  Mary  ;  Eliza  ;  Rebecca  (who  died  5. 
March  1690)  ;  &  Hannah  who  in.  Joseph  Blackman  of  Stratford.  He  next  m.  Dorothy  d.  of  Rev. 
Henry  Smith  of  Weathersfield,  &  wid.  of  John  Blackman  of  Stratford  3.  Oct.  1665,  who,  Savage 
says,  bore  off  a  prize  against  the  counter  claim  of  John  Thomas,  whom  she  had  previously 
encouraged.  His  last  days  were  greatly  embittered  by  the  quarrel  of  his  sons,  over  lands  he  had 
deeded  his  older  son  at  Pequonnock,  at  which  time  Samuel  acted  as  attorney  for  his  father.  He 
died  at  Stratford,  where  he  appears  to  have  resided  after  his  last  marriage.  His  will  is  dated  3. 
Oct.  1690,  in  which  month  he  died.  His  wid.  m.  Mark  St.  John  of  Norwalk,  who  died  1693  ;  & 
she  m.  for  her  fourth  husband,  Deacon  Isaac  Moore  of  Farmington.  (Savage  Gen.  Die.) 

ISAAC  i.  s.  of  Francis  i.  became  a  surgeon.  He  m.  Lydia  d.  of  Nicholas  Knap  of  F.  16. 
Jan.  1666.  Their  children  were  Isaac  b.  8.  Nov  1667  ;  Sarah  3.  May  1668  ;  Lydia  21.  Sept  1670; 
Elizabeth  II.  Nov.  1672  ;  Samuel  14.  Sept.  1674  ;  Francis  26.  Sept.  1676  ;  John  S.  Feb.  1677  ;  & 
died  4  years  after  ;  John  3.  Jan.  1679  ;  Mary  7.  Aug.  1681  ;  Abigail  i.  April  1683  ;  Jonathan  2. 
Dec.  1684.  Dr.  Isaac  Hall  was  engaged  several  years  in  a  law-suit  with  his  brothers,  which  was 
finally  settled  by  Jonathan  Pitman  &  George  Pardee  of  New  Haven  as  arbitrators.  He  sold  his 
housing  &  lands  in  F.  in  1684  to  Richard  Ogden,  &  removed  to  New  Haven. 

SAMUEL  s.  of  Francis  Hall  i.  m.  Mary d.  of 26  March  1682.  Their  children  were 

Francis  b.  27.  Feb.  1683  ;  Edward  S.  Jan  1685.  &  died  12.  March  1687  ;  Mary  10.  Feb  iGSs/V 
He  next  m.  Hannah d.  of  —  —  16.  March  I6S61,  who  died  on  the  17.  Nov.  following.  An- 
other s.  James  died  17.  Dec.  1690.  The  Hall  family  appear  to  have  settled  in  Bridgeport  &  its 
vicinity. 

HEDGE 

STEPHEN  HEDGE  was  in  F.  before  1670,  where  he  died  without  children,  leaving  his  estate 
to  his  nephew  Antony  Hedge  of  England.  His  will  on  file  at  F.  is  a  remarkable  document. 
Antony  Hedge  came  to  America  &  in  A.  of  T.  D.,  in  recording  the  estate  left  him  by  his  Uncle, 
calls  himself  "of  the  County  Wilts  in  the  kingdom  of  England."  He  deeded  to  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Hull,  d.  of  Rev.  John  Jones,  land  left  him  by  his  Uncle  in  Paul's  Neck.  Of  him  I  find  no  more. 


GENEALOGIES  377 

HIDE 

HUMPHREY  HIDE,  as  the  name  is  written  in  the  F.  T.  Rec.,  was  at  Windsor  before  coming 
to  Fairfield.  He  was  granted  a  home-lot  of  2\  acres  from  the  town,  which  was  recorded  6.  March 
1649,  bounded  n.  e.  with  home-lot  of  John  Banks  ;  n.  w.  commons  ;  s.  w.  John  Thompson's 
home-lot  ;  s.  e.  highway.  In  1653  he  purchased  of  John  Grumman  2^  acres  adjoining  this  lot, 
bounded  n.  w.  with  commons  ;  s.  w.  with  his  own  land  ;  n.  e.  &  s.  e.  with  a  highway.  lie  also 
pur.  John  Banks'  home-lot  about.  1649.  This  land  is  located  where  F.  Post  Office  now  stands. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  the  pond,  long  known  as  Hide's  Pond,  did  not  exist  in  the  early  days  of 
the  town.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  spot  came  to  be  a  pond,  which  was  always  called  Hide's  Pond, 
until  filled  up  by  Frederick  Sturges  Esqr.  of  F.  in  1880.  The  Hide  family  are  believed  to  have 
been,  &  there  seems  to  be  no  question  about  it,  of  the  best  blood  of  England.  They  have  always 
been  stanch,  sterling,  thrifty  men  in  the  town  ;  &  for  generations  a  Deacon  Hide,  has  represented 
the  family  in  the  Greens  Farm's  Congregational  Church. 

Hump/trey  Hide  I.  whose  name  is  frequently  seen  in  the  F.  Rec.  as  7/z/w.  o-3  Utn.  Hide,  m. 
probably  in  England.  In  his  will  dated  12.  Nov.  1679,  he  mentions  w.  Ann  ;  s.  John,  to  whom 
he  confirmed  lands  he  had  deeded  him  at  various  times  at  F.,  &  gave  him  his  sword  &  gun  ;  to  his 
d.  Sarah  w.  of  Peter  Coley,  the  use  of  several  pieces  of  land,  his  Compo  dividends,  i  of  his  long- 
lot  &  "  i  of  his  home-lot  next  the  rocks"  which,  at  her  death  was  entailed  to  her  son  Samuel  Coley 
or  to  his  next  male  heir,  &  in  default  of  male  heirs  to  her  daughters  ; — to  d.  Hannah  (who  m. 
William  Sprague)  &  to  her  heirs,  the  other  half  of  his  home-lot  after  his  wife's  death  ;  half  of  his 
long-lot  &  other  parcels  of  land  at  F.,  Sasqua  &  Bankside  ;  to  the  children  of  his  s.  John,  namely 
John,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  &  Mary  5s  apiece  ;  to  children  of  d.  Sarah  namely  Samuel,  Sarah,  Peter 
&  Mary  Coley  5s  each.  He  made  his  wife  Ann  sole  executrix,  &  his  friends  John  Gregory  of 
Norwalk,  &  Robert  Clark  of  Stratford,  over-seers  of  his  will. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Humphrey  Hide  i.  in  1680  was  living  in  his  father's  homestead.  He  m.  Eliza- 
beth (b.  25.  July  1644)  d.  of  Richard  Harvey  of  Stratford,  formerly  of  Concord,  Mass.,  to  whom 
said  Harvey  deeded  33  acres  of  land  at  Stratford  in  1686. — F.  T.  Deeds.  Their  children  were  John 
b.  i,  May  1668  ;  Elizabeth  23.  Aug.  1669  who  m.  Edward  Jesup  of  Bankside  ;  Mary  25.  Sept. 
1670  who  m.  Benjamin  Rumsey  of  Bankside  ;  Sarah  25.  July  1672  who  m.  Jonathan  Fanton  of 
Fairfield.  — /'.  T.  D,  He  probably  had  other  children,  as  one  Deborah  Hide  who  m.  Moses  Jack- 
son s.  of  Henry  Jackson  i.  was  probably  his  daughter.  He  appears  to  have  moved  to  Green's 
Farms  before  the  23,  of  April  1697,  at  which  time  Jonathan  Sturges  purchased  of  Benjamin  Rum- 
sey one  acre  in  John  Hide's  home-lot,  bounded  n.  e.  with  home-lot  of  William  Sprague  ;  s.  e. 
Daniel  Burr,  &  s.  w.  Jonathan  Sturges. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Hide  r.  b.  I.  May  1668.  m.  Rachel  d.  of  Robert  Rumsey  of  Bankside  i. 
Jan.  1692.  Their  children  were  John  b.  6.  Oct.  1692,  who  m.  Rachel  Holmes  ;  Elizabeth  b.  9. 
Aug.  1694,  who  m.  John  Bell  ;  Demaris  b.  2.  Sept.  1696,  who  m.  Thomas  Whitlock  ;  Daniel  b. 

31.  March  1700,  who  m.  Deborah ;  Abigail  b.  20  May  1702,  who  m.  Joseph  Mallery  ;  Sarah 

b.  25.  Dec.  1703,  who  m.  Jonathan  Fanton  ;  Mary  b.  8.  Oct.  1705  ;  who  m.  Benjamin  Darling  ; 
Hannah  b,  28.  Sept.  1707,  who  m.  Rev.  Joseph  Burr  ;  Rachel  b.  6.  Feb.  1713,  who  m.  Daniel 
Lord,  (in  the  Greenfield  Par.  Rec.  it  is  written  Robert  Lord).  "  Recorded  at  Fairfield  as  follows  : 
"  Rachel  w.  of  John  Hide  covenanted  &  was  baptized  2.  April  17 ro.  At  the  same  time  her  son 
Joseph  was  bapt. " — This  John  Hide  2.  was  a  physician  &  died  at  Greenfield,  where  he  resided  in 
1744.  His  tomb-stone  &  that  of  his  wife's  are  still  to  be  seen  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Greenfield 
Hill.  He  was  a  Deacon  in  the  church  there,  &  the  births  &  deaths  of  his  children  are  to  be  found 
in  the  Greenfield  Parish  Record. 

JOHN  3.  s.  of  John  Hide  2.  b.  6.  Oct  1692,  m.  Rachel  Holmes  22.  April  1718.  Their  children 
were  :  Eunice  b.  10.  Feb.  1719,  who  m.  —  —  Wilson  of  Fairfield  ;  Mary  b.  30.  Sept.  1720,  who  m. 
David  Coley  16.  Dec.  1740  ;  John  b.  1725,  who  m.  Abigail  Ogden,  &  had  no  children  ;  Sarah 


378  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

b.  27.  Nov.  1727,  who  m.  Ebenezer  Banks  18.  June  1746;  Joseph  b. 1729,  who  m.  Betty 

Sherwood  (sister  of  Rev.  Samuel  Sherwood)  i.  Aug.  1753  ;  Rachel  b.  29.  Feb.  1736,  who  m.  Rev. 
Samuel  Sherwood  6.  June  1754.  Mrs.  Rachel  Holmes  Hide  d.  30.  Sept.  1736  in  the  39th  year  of 
her  age  ;  &  John  Hide  next  m.  Abigail  Adams  22  March  1737.  John  Hide  d.  n  Jan.  1761. 

JOSEI-H  I.  s.  of  John  Hide  3.  b.  —  —  1729,  m.  Betty  Sherwood  I.  Aug.  1753.  Their  children 
were  Elizabeth  or  Betsey  b.  15  Dec.  1753,  who  m.  Daniel  Andrews  ;  John  b.  17.  Aug.  1755,  who 
m.  Abigail  Jennings  &  had  3  daughters  ;  Salome  b.  30.  Aug.  1757,  who  m.  Nathaniel  Adams  ;  Joseph 
b.  3.  Jan.  1761.  who  m.  Arete  Jesup  ;  Rachel  b.  30.  Oct.  1762,  who  in.  Joseph  Wakeman.  Joseph 
Hide  i.  had  a  second  wife  Tainah  Higgins.  He  d.  14.  Aug.  1814. 

JOSKPII  2.  s.  of  Joseph  Hyde  I.  b.  3.  Jan  1761,  m.  Arete  Jesup,  d.  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Jesup. 

Their  children  were  :  Arete  b.  6.  Dec.  1791  ;  Eleanor  b.  17.  Jan  1793,  &  d.  Aug  1857  ;  John 

b.  ii.  Jan  1795  &  d.  —  —  1809  ;  Myranda  b.  8.  Dec.  1796  ;  Joseph  b.  2O.  Sept.  1/98,  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1820,  &  d.  14.  Dec  1824  ;  Ebenezer  b.  27  July  1800,  and  d.  young  ;  Rachel  b. 
13.  June  1802  ;  Edward  b.  i.  March  1804  ;  William  18.  1-805  ;  John  S.  b.  19.  July  1807  ; 
Samuel  b.  23.  Feb  1809  ;  a  son  b.  &  d.  13,  April  1811  ;  Mary  Augusta  b.  12.  July  1813.* 

HILL 

WILLIAM  HILL  I.  came  to  New  England  in  the  ship  William  &  Francis  June  5^  1632. 
(Founder's  of  New  England.)  He  was  a  man  of  note  &  first  settled  at  Dorchester  ;  was  made  a 
freeman  of  the  Mass.  Col.  5  Nov.  1633,  &  a  select  man  in  1636  :  He  was  granted  land  at  Dor- 
chester 2.  Nov.  1635.  He  removed  soon  after  to  Windsor,  Ct,  where  he  was  granted  a  home- 
lot  &  "  and  set  out  an  orchard."  In  1639  he  was  appointed  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  to  examine  the  arms 
&  ammunition  of  the  towns  in  the  colony  ;  was  also  auditor  of  public  accounts  ;  was  elected  deputy 
to  the  Cen.  Ct.  from  1639  to  1641,  &  in  1644.  He  removed  to  F.  soon  after,  &  was  chosen  an 
assistant  of  the  Gen.  Ct.,  &  appointed  a  collector  of  Customes.  He  &  his  son  William  were  granted 
by  the  town  home-lots  between  Paul's  Neck  &  Robert  Turney's  home-lot,  on  the  n.  e.  side  of 
Dorcester  St.,  &  the  Newton  Square.  He  died  in  1649,  as  his  wife  is  in  the  Town  Records  at 
that  time  called  a  widow.  His  will  is  in  the  2'}?  Vol.  of  the  Records  of  the  Particular  Court  at 
Hartford,  &  is  dated  9.  Sept  1649,  &  probated  15.  May  1650.!  In  it  he  mentions  his  wife  Sarah; 
&  children  Sarah,  William,  Joseph,  Ignatius,  James  &  Elizabeth.  His  d.  Sarah  m.  Joseph 
Loomis  17.  Sept.  1646. 

\VlLLiAM  2.  s.  of  William  Hill  i.  was  born  in  England,  &  called  for  several  years  after  his 
father's  death,  W™  Hill  jr.  He  was  probably  with  his  father  in  Dorchester  &  Windsor,  &  accom- 
panied him  to  F.,  where  he  was  granted  a  home-lot  between  his  father's  &  Paul's  Neck.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  influential  &  useful  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was  the  town  recorder  in 
1650,  &  for  several  years  after;  &  to  him  Roger  Ludlow  delivered  town  papers  of  value  when  he 
left  F.  in  1654.  Mention  is  made  in  the  records  i.  Feb.  1673  of  his  having  received  his  portion 
of  his  father's  estate,  from  his  father-in-law  Greenleaf ,  which  either  indicates  that  he  was  twice  m. 
or  that  said  Greenleaf  m.  his  mother.  lie  was  granted  from  the  town  13.  Feb  1670,  the  Lewis 
lot  on  the  n.  w.  corner  of  the  Newton  Square.  He  died  19.  Dec  1684.  He  m.  in  F.  Elizabeth  d. 
of  the  Rev.  John  Jones.  Their  children  were  :  \Villiam,  Eliphalet,  Joseph,  John,  James  &  Sarah. 
Joseph  d.  in  1696  childless. 

SARAH  m.  Richard  Widden  15.  April  1686.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth  b.  19.  Sept  1688  ; 
&  Sarah  29.  Dec.  1689.  Richard  Widden  died  24.  Oct  1690. 

ELIPHALET  s.  of  William  Hill  2.  m.  Esther  d.  of  William  Ward.  Their  children  were 
William  b.  17.  Nov.  1692  &  Eliphalet  b.  n.  Jan  1694"-.  The  father  died  in  1695. 

*  The  dates  &  births  were  copied  from  a  manuscript  in  the  possession  of  Miss  M.  L.  Hyde,  d.  of  the  late 
Deacon  John  Hyde  of  Green's  Farms. 

t  Sec  boundaries  of  Thomas  Jones  home-lot  in  1649. 


GENEALOGIES  379 

JOHN  m.  Sarah  d.  of .  Their  children  were:  Sarah  hapt.  15.  May  1701  ;  &  John 

29.  June  1707. 

WILLIAM  3.  s.  of  William  Hill  2.  "was  m.  to  Abigail  d.  of  David  Osborn  of  Kastchester  7. 
Oct.  1691,  by  Mr  John  Burr."  Their  children  were  Abigail  b.  8,  Jan  1694^  ;  Joseph  I,  April 
1699  (F.  T.  Rec.)  William  bapt.  14.  May  1699  ;  William  again,  bapt  12,  July  1702;  David  7, 
April  1706  ;  &  Catherine  2,  Jan.  1717.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

This  family  have  been  noted  for  having  been  deacons  in  the  Congregational  church. 

JABEZ  s.  of  Deacon  Hill  5.  settled  in  Weston  &.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Col.  John  Read,  after  whom 
the  parish  of  Redding  was  named. 

EBENEZER  HILL  b.  20  Feb.  1768,  lived  &  died  in  Fairfield,  &  was  a  Captain  in  the  army  of 
the  Revolution.  His  son  David  b.  7.  July  1766,  studied  for  the  ministry,  &  after  preaching  a  fe.v 
years,  studied  law  &  became  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Probate  ;  was  frequently  a  member  of  the  State 
Senate  &  legislature,  &  had  the  honor  to  be  appointed  one  of  a  committee  for  revising  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  State.  He  also  lived  and  died  at  F. 

THOMAS  HILL  "the  mariner"  prob.  s.  of  James  Hill  of  Boston,  m.  Abigail  ihu  only  d.  of 
Tzbon  &  Hannah  Wakeman  in  1685  &  the  homestead  "  was  divided  between  the  mother  &  daughter 
by  the  middle  of  the  chimney.''  He  pur.  in  1686  in  London  one  half  of  a  vessel  called  "  The  Two 
Brothers"  of  32  tons  burden,  for  73  £.  While  on  his  long  voyages  from  home,  he  left  his  estate  in 
trust  with  Elias  Dougherty  &  Jacob  Walker  of  L.  I.  His  children  were  Thomas  ;  Benjamin  bapt. 
3,  Nov.  1695,  &  no  doubt  others. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Wakeman,  the  wid.  of  Izbon  W.  entered  into  a  marriage  contract  with  Capt. 
Joseph  Bastard,  a  mariner  &  a  stranger  ;  &  so  long  did  he  remain  away  from  home  on  his  voyages 
from  F. ,  that  the  neighbors  gossiped  of  his  neglect  &  unfaithfulness  to  his  wife,  &  that  he  would 
spend  all  her  money.  About  fourteen  months  after  their  mar.  he  entered  a  protest,  &  had  it 
recorded  in  the  town  Records,  against  the  neighbors  "  possessing  his  wife's  mind"  with  such  an 
idea  ;  &  to  remove  all  fears,  &  that  his  wife  might  not  further  be  deluded  with,  by  such  reports, 
"out  of  the  tenderness  he  bore  her  &  his  children  by  her,"  he  made  over  his  entire  estate  to  the 
care  of  Major  Nathan  Gold  &  Mr.  Jehue  Burr,  in  trust  for  her  use  during  her  natural  life.  He  died 
in  1697  leaving  a  handsome  property. 

THOMAS  HILL  2,  m.  Maryd.  of —  .  Their  children  were  :  Abigail  bapt.  5.  June  1720; 

Thaddeus  26.  June  1720;  Mary.  n.  Nov  1722;  Mary  9.  Aug.  1724;  Elizabeth  9.  Jan.  1726  7; 
Anne  n.  May  1729;  Thomas  12.  Dec.  1731.  F.  Par.  Rec.  &  G.  Par.  Rec.  He  is  called  Capt. 
in  the  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

HUBBELL 

HUBBALL,  HUBBILL,  HUBBELL.  Sergt.  Richard  Hubbell  was  born  in  England  about  1627,  & 
came  toN.  E.  between  1640  &  1645.  He  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  the  N.  H.  Colony  on  the  7. 
March  1645.  In  I&5O11  he  m.  "  Elizabeth  d.  of  John,  &  grand-daughter  of  Vincent  Meigs  of  Dor- 
cetshire,  England.  Her  grand-father  Vincent  Meigs  was  born  in  1570,  emigrated  to  America, 
&  settled  at  \Veymouth,  Mass,  was  in  N.  H.  in  1647  '<  afterwards  moved  to  Guilford,  &  finally 
settled  at  Killingworth,  Ct.  where  he  died  in  1658."  Richard  Hubbell  moved  from  N.  H.  to 
Guilford,  Ct.,  &  pur.  land  there  25.  Feb.  1653.  He  was  tried  &  lined  for  sedition  in  X.  H.  in 
1656  ;  &  when  asked  if  he  was  sorry  for  giving  his  name  to  a  seditious  paper,  he  replied,  "  that  it 
was  only  his  desire  to  have  what  our  law  did  allow,  &  no  more."  He  soon  after  removed  to  F., 
where  he  was  accepted  to  be  made  a  freeman  of  the  the  town  13.  Oct  1664  ;  &  was  made  a  free- 
man 10  Oct.  1669.  He  settled  n.  w.  of  the  plateau  at  Pequonnock  &  pur.  the  home-lot  of  Thomas 
Wheeler,  sr.  He  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  F.,  &  one  of  the  most  enterprising.  He  was 
one  of  the  largest  land  holders  in  the  town.  His  name  is  mentioned  in  the  Fairfield  Patent 
granted  in  1685.  Both  he  &  his  sons  were  brave  &  active  men  in  the  French  &  Indian  wars,  &  his 


380  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

memory  is  honored  &  respected  by  his  descendants,  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town  & 
colony.  lie  died  23.  Oct.  1699  aged  about  72  years.  By  his  wife  Elizabeth  Meigs,  he  had  John 
b.  about  1652  in  N.  H. ;  Richard  1654  I  James  1656  who  d.  2  Dec.  of  the  same  year.  Samuel  b.  6. 
Nov.  1657  ;  Elizabeth  16.  Nov.  1659  ;  Ebenezer  ;  Mary  all  b.  at  Guilford  ;  Martha  b.  in  F.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Hubbell  died,  &  soon  after  Sergt.  Richard  II.  m.  a  second  wife,  whose  Christian  name  is 
not  known  ;  but  on  her  tomb-stone,  in  the  old  Stratford  burying  ground,  her  initials  are  E.  II.  & 
the  date  of  her  death  in  1688.  By  this  wife  he  had  Samuel,  Abigail,  Sarah  &  James.  The  second 
wife  died  ;  &  Sergt.  Richard  again  m.  a  third  wife  Abigail  in  1688,  who  was  the  widow  of  Joseph 
Walker  of  Stratford,  Ct.,  &  by  her  he  had  Joseph  who  d.  in  1700,  &  John  b.  in  April  1691.  Sergt 
Richard  Hubbell  died  on  the  23.  of  October,  aged  about  72  years.  His  tomb-stone  is  near  that  of 
his  second  wife  in  the  old  Burying  Ground  of  Stratford,  marked  R.  H. ;  but  the  date  of  his  death  is 
obliterated  with  age.  His  will  is  dated  20.  Nov.  1699  in  which  he  confirmed  to  the  heirs  of  his 
son  John  dec.,  &  to  his  s.  Richard,  &  s.  Samuel  sr. ,  all  lands  &c  ;  formerly  given  them  ;  to  s.  Eben- 
ezer he  gave  40  acres  of  his  long-lot  :  to  Richard  as  much  of  his  long-lot  as  he  could  cultivate  in 
ten  years  :  to  d.  Elizabeth  w.  of  Joseph  Frost,  besides  her  rnar.  dower  2o£:  to  d.  Mary  w.  of 
James  Newton  S°£-  to  d.  Martha  w.  of  Capt.  John  Wakeman,  besides  her  mar.  dower  "  one  heavy 
piece  of  eight  :"  to  s.  Samuel  jr.,  (for  he  had  two  sons  named  Samuel)  over  &  above  what  he  had 
already  given  him,  as  much  of  his  long-lot  as  he  could  cultivate,  not  previously  disposed  of  •  to  d. 
Abigail,  w.  of  Samuel  French,  one  cow,  &  10^  after  his  wife's  dec.  out  of  his  movable  estate  :  to  d. 
Sarah  (who  m.  Deacon  Josiah  Stevens  in  1699)  ioo£  in  current  provision  pay  :  to  s.'s  James, 
Joseph  &  John  all  other  lands  not  previously  disposed  of  :  the  use  of  the  remainder  of  his  estate  he 
left  to  his  wife  Abigail  during  her  natural  life,  who,  with  his  son  Samuel  sr. ,  he  made  his  execu- 
tors. To  this  will  is  attached  his  family  seal  of  a  bird  holding  an  olive  branch,  which  encircles  the 
border  of  the  seal.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  amounted  to  8i6,£.  Abigail,  the  third  wife  of 
Sergt.  Richard  Hubbell,  made  her  will  17.  April  1688,  &  died  early  in  Jan  1718.  In  her  will  she 
remembers  her  '•  living  son  John  Hubbell,"  &  her  son  &  two  dau's,  by  her  first  husband,  namely  : 
Robert  Walker,  Abigail  Bostwick  &  Joanna  Odell.  She  left  "  10  s.  in  money,  towards  buying  a 
flagon  for  the  Communion  Table  at  Stratfield." 

LIEUT.  JOHN  i.,  s.  of  Sergt.  Richard  Hubbell  i.  settled  at  Stratford  &m.  Patience .  Their 

children  were  Margery  b.  1681  ;  Richard  25,  Jan.  1684  ;  Josiah  1688. —  He  was  one  of  the  sol- 
diers from  F.  engaged  in  the  French  &  Indian  war.  In  consideration  of  his  loss  of  one  'of  his 
fingers,  while  in  an  engagement,  the  Gen.  Ct.  awarded  him  13.  May  1678,  100  acres  of  land.  On 
the  20.  of  April  1690,  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Robert  Treat  Lieut,  of  a  foot  company,  under 
Capt.  Ebenezer  Johnson  of  Stratford,  for  the  protection  of  Albany.  While  stationed  near  Albany 
he  died  of  small-pox.  &  was  buried  in  full  uniform.  A  stone  bearing  his  initials,  &  the  date  of  his 
death  1690,  marked  his  grave.  The  Indians  disinterred  his  body,  &  appropriated  his  uniform, 
which  spread  the  loathsome  disease  among  them  to  such  an  extent,  that  about  half  the  tribe  were 
cut  off.  Lieut  John  Hubbell  was  thus  said  to  have  slain  more  enemies  of  the  country  after  his 
death,  than  during  his  life  ;  which  horrible  catastrophe  was  the  occasion  of  many  sermons  by  the 
clergy  of  the  colony.*  His  widow  m.  Samuel  Hawley  of  Stratford. 

LIEUT.  RICHARD  2.  s.  of  Sergt  Richard  Hubbell  i.  settled  at  Stratfield.  He  was  one  of  the 
active  nine  applicants  for  forming  the  East  Farmers  of  F.  into  a  parish  ;  &  was  a  wealthy  & 
influential  planter  of  the  town  &  colony.  He  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  Samuel  &  Rebecca  Morehouse  5. 
Nov.  1685.  Their  children  were  :  Peter  b.  10.  Aug.  1686  ;  Ebenezer  19.  Sept.  1687  ;  Elizabeth 
23.  Oct.  1689,  &  m-  Nathan  Beardsley  ;  Jonathan  25.  March  1692.  Mrs.  Richard  Hubbell  died  2. 
April  1692.  Richard  Hubbell  next  m.  Hannah  Silloway  of  Maiden,  Mass,  by  Major  Gold  12. 
Oct.  1692  Their  children  were  :  Zechariah  b.  26.  Aug.  1994  ;  Richard  20.  Oct.  1696  ;  Han- 
nah 7.  July  1698  ;  Eleazer  15.  Aug.  1700  ;  Nathaniel  n.  Aug.  1702  ;  Margery  17.  Jan.  1705  ; 

*  Hist,  of  the  Hubbell  Family  by  Walter  Hubbell. 


GENEALOGIES  381 

Abigail  23.  Sept.  1700.  He  died  in  1838.  His  will  is  dated  12.  Nov.  1734,  leaving  a  large  estate 
of  2845^.  His  eldest  s.  Peter  settled  at  Newton,  to  whom  he  gave,  beside  other  estate,  "  3  of 
his  copper-mine,  situated  a  little  below  ye  Pine  Swamp  &  ye  upper  ends  of  Stratfield  bounds." 
The  other  third  he  gave  to  Richard  Whitney.  He  left  his  house  &  home-lot,  which  had  been  his 
father's  homestead,  to  his  s.  Zachariah.  His  son  Nathaniel  was  educated  &  settled  as  a  minister 
in  New  Jersey.  He  willed  his  silver  tankard  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield.  This  tankard 
is  a  very  handsome  piece  of  solid  silver,  &  is  an  elegant  piece  of  workmanship.  It  is  still  in  use 
in  the  First  Congregational  Church  at  Bridgeport.  On  one  side  is  engraved  :  "  Left.  Richard 
Hubbell's  Gift  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Stratfield.  A.  D.  1738." 

LIEUT.  SAMUEL  I.  s.  of  Richard  Hubbell  I.  &  called  in  his  father's  will  sr.,  settled  at  Strat- 
field, was  the  Recorder  there  £  Parish  Clark  from  1694  to  1713.  He  m.  Elizabeth  Wilson  4. 
April  1687  &  had  s.  Benoni  b.  29.  Dec.  1687.  The  mother  died  20.  Jan.  i6S8.  Samuel  i.  next 
m.  Temperance  Preston  17,  April  1688,  &  had  Elizabeth  b.  29.  Dec.  1688,  &  died  4.  Jan.  1688-  ; 
Jehiel  27.  Jan.  1689,  &  died  3.  May  1693;  Daniel  8.  Aug.  1691  ;  Catherine  n.  March  1693,  & 
died  19.  Dec.  1697  ;  Ephraim  n.  Oct.  1694  ;  Stephen  16.  Feb.  1695^;  David  I.  July  1698  ;  Abiel 
15.  Jan.  1699,  &  died  3  March  the  same  yr.  Tabitha  24  Dec.  1700,  &  m.  James  Bennet  jr  ; 
Joseph  29.  Oct.  1702.  "  Stratfield  Society  Book." 

EBENEZER,  s.  of  Richard  Hubbell  i.  settled  at  New  London  &  m.  Mary  d.  of  Gabriel  Harris. 
Their  children  were  Elizabeth  b.  1693  ;  Ebenezer  1695,  &  died  1720  (Cauthren's  Hist.  New 
London  p.  338.)  Ebenezer  the  father  died  1698. 

SAMUEL  JR.  s.  of  Richard  Hubbell  2.  settled  at  Fairfield  &  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  -  Their 
children  were  Hannah  bapt.  19.  May  1695  ;  Nathan  3.  Dec.  1699,  ^ied  6.  Feb.  1761  ;  Eunice 
bapt.  21  March  1703  ;  Abigail  bapt.  15.  July  1705  ;  Olive  15.  Feb.  17077  ±  &  m.  Joseph  Bradley 
(she  was  the  great  grand  mother  of  Justice  Joseph  P.  Bradley  of  the  U.  S.  Sup.  Ct.)  ;  David,  bapt. 
2.  Sept.  1711  &  m.  Martha ;  Samuel  bapt.  30.  May  1714.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

JAMES  i.  s.  of  Richard  Hubbell  i.  first  settled  at  Stratfield,  then  moved  to  Stratford,  & 

finally  with  his  son  Andrew  to  Easton  Ct.  He  m.  Patience Their  children  were  Andrew  b. 

22.  July  1706,  died  1777  ;  Abiah  n  Aug  1708  ;  Sarah  12  Sept  1711  ;  Elnathan  22.  Sept.  1717  ; 
Patience  8  April  1722  ;  Stratford  T.  Rec.  &  Stratfield  Society  Book. 

JOSEPH  i.,  son  of  Richard  Hubbell  i.,  died  in  1700  before  in  reaching- the  age  of  21.  His 
guardian  was  David  Sherman  of  Stratfield. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Richard  Hubbell  i.  settled  at  Stratford,  m.  Anne  Wells  b.  Nov.  1711.  Their 
children  were  Jerusha  bapt.  14  June  1713  ;  Benjamin  b.  1717,  died  24  Feb.  1793;  &  John,  who 
was  accidentally  shot  by  his  brother  Benjamin  while  deer  hunting.* 

HULL 

GEORGE  HULL  was  at  Dorchester  1(130,  &  probably  came  .with  Lucllow's  company  in  the  ship 
Mary  and  John.  He  was  made  a  freeman  of  Mass.  March  4^  1633,  &  a  deputy  of  the  Gen.  Ct. 
May  I4'.1?  1634.  He  removed  to  Windsor  with  Ludlow's  company,  &  was  chosen  deputy  for  that 
town  from  1637  to  46.  He  then  removed  to  F. ,  &  was  granted  a  home-lot  of  6  acres  from  the 
town.  He  was  frequently  a  deputy  to  the  Gen.  Court.  Most  of  his  children  were  born  in  England, 
&  the  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not  known.  II is  second  wife  was  Sarah,  widow  of  David  Phippen 
of  Boston,  whom  he  m.  in  1654.  His  will  is  dated  Aug.  2f'.!)  1659,  in  which  year  he  died.  In  it 
he  mentions  children  Josiah,  Cornelius,  Elizabeth,  Mary  (who  m.  Humphrey  Pinney)  Martha  £ 
Naomi,  also  cousin  i.e.  niece  Jane  Pinkney.  His  widow  made  her  will  the  same  month,  in  which 
she  gave  her  house  in  Boston  to  her  children,  Benjamin,  Joseph,  Gamaliel,  (ieorge,  I^ebecca 

*  A  valuable  history  of  the  Hubbell  Family  has  been  compiled  by  Walter  Hubbell  Esqr.  of  Philadelphia  ; 
published  by  J.  H.  Hubbcll  &  Co.,  407  &  409  Broadway  N.  Y.  1881. 


382  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Vickers  &  Sarah  Tow;    &  names  cousins  i.e.   neph.  Philip  Pinkney,  &  cousin  Jane  Pinkney.     F. 
Prob.  Rec. 

JOSIAH,  probably  s.  of  George  Mull  I.  settled  at  Windsor,  &  m.  20.  May  1641  Elizabeth  d.  of 
Joseph  Bemis.  Their  children  were  Josiah  b.  Sept.  1642;  John  17.  Dec.  1644;  Elizabeth  18. 
Feb.  1647  ;  Mary  2.  Oct.  1648  ;  Martha  10.  June  1550  ;  Joseph  10.  Aug  1652  ;  Sarah  9.  Aug 
1654;  Naomi  Feb  17.  1657;  Rebeeca  10.  Aug.  1659;  George  28.  April  1662,  who  died  early;  & 
Thomas  29.  May  1665.  He  represented  Windsor  in  1659,  Go,  &  62.  He  removed  to  Killingworth, 
which  he  represented  1667-1670  &  many  years  after  ;  &  died  16  Nov  1675.  His  d.  Naomi  m. 
4.  Jan.  1677  Thomas  Burnham  2.  of  Windsor.  Sav.  Gen.  Die. 

CORNELIUS  i.  s.  of  George  Hull  i.  b.  in  England  in  1626,  accompanied  his  father  to  F.,  & 
was  granted  a  home-lot  of  3  acres,  adjoining  that  of  his  father's.  He  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  the  Rev. 
John  Jones.  His  will  is  dated  16.  Sept  1695,  in  which  he  mentions  his  children  Samuel, 
Cornelius,  Theophilus,  Rebecca,  Sarah  w.  of  Robert  Silliman  ;  &  Martha  w.  of  Cornelius  Listen 
(Risden). 

SAMUEL  i.  s.  of  Cornelius  Hull  i.  m.,  first  Deborah  d.  of  James  Beers  I.,  by  whom  he  had 
Samuel,  bapt.  26  April  1696.  By  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  d.  of  Sergt.  Richard  Hubbell  i .  & 
widow  of  Joseph  Frost,  he  had  Cornelius  bapt.  23.  June  1700;  Josiah  12.  April  1702  ;  &  Sarah 
28.  March  1704.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

CORNELIUS  2.  s.  of  Cornelius  Hull  i.,  m.  x  Sarah  d.  of  Ezekiel  Sandford  I.  ;  &  settled  at  Hull's 
Farms.  Their  children  were  Sarah  &  Rebecca  bapt.  26.  Aug.  1694  ;  x  Nathaniel  7.  April  1695  ; 
Ebenezer  20.  Jan  1697  ;  Elizabeth  15.  Oct.  1699  ;  Martha  13.  July  1701  ;  x  John  —  —  Ebenezer 
15.  Sept.  1706;  Cornelius  1.4.  May  1710.  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

GEORGE  2.  s.  of  George  Hull  i.  m d.  of Their  children  were  Abigail  bapt.  i.  June 

1712  ;  Mary  12  July  1713  ;  Joseph  9  Oct  1715  ;  Abigail  4  June  1721  ;  Thaddeus  14  April  1723. 
F.  Par.  Rec. 

THEOPHILUS  i.  s.  of  Cornelius  Hull  I.  m.  Mary  d.  of  Ezekiel  Sanford  I.  &  settled  at  Green- 
field. Their  children  were  Mary  &  Anne  bapt.  26.  Aug  1694  ;  Theophilus  23.  May  1697  :  Eli- 
phalet  30.  March  1701  ;  John  2.  April  1704;  Jabez  10.  Feb  1705'^  Lydia  26.  Feb  I72O"1  ;  Mary 
22.  Sept  1723.  F  &  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

NATHANIEL  i.  s.  of  Cornelius  Hull  2.  b.  March  1695  m.  Elizabeth d.  of (b.  12.  April 

1696).  Their  children  were  x  Sarah  b.  8.  Nov  1717  ;  Elizabeth  2.  Aug.  1719  ;  Hester  n.  June 
1721  ;  Stephen  25.  July  1724  ;  Nathaniel  25.  Feb.  1726-  ;  x  Peter  15.  Nov.  1728  ;  Sarah  20.  Dec. 
1730  ;  Ezekiel  12.  Oct.  1732  ;  x  David  10.  Dec.  1734:  Aaron  ir.  Sept.  1736  ;  Silas  15.  June  1739  ; 
Hannah  20.  Jan.  1744.  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

x  ELIPHALET  i.   s.   of  Theophilus  Hull  i.   bapt.   30.  March   1701,  m.   Sarah- (b.  27  Feb 

1704)  d.  of .      Their  children  were  Miriam  b.  20,  Dec.    1724;  Sarah   10.    May  1726;  Seth  23. 

Feb.  1728'-  ;  Ruth  27,  March  1730;  John  28.  March  1732  ;  Daniel  15,  May  1734  ;  Mary  28.  March 
1736.  G.  II.  Par.  Rec. 

JACKSON 

HENRY  JACKSON  was  probably  the  man  who  came  in  the  ship  Elizabeth  &  Ann  in  1635, 
aged  29,  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  &  supremacy  to  the  crown,  &  brought  a  certificate 
from  the  minister  &  Justice  the  Peace,  in  the  place  he  resided  in  England,  (not  mentioned)  of  his 
conformity  to  the  Church  of  England,  &  that  he  was  no  subsidy  man.  (Hotten's  List  of  Emi- 
grants to  America.)  In  the  same  ship  came  Robert  Hawkins,  Nicholas  St.  John,  &  several  of  the 
WThitney  family.  He  was  at  Watertown  in  1637,  &  was,  says  Savage,  "one  of  the  lessees  of  the 
fishing  grounds  of  that  place."  He  was  at  F.  in  1648,  where  Feb.  2,  1648-,  he  made  an  agree- 
ment with  the  town  to  erect  a  grist-mill  on  the  stream,  running,  into  the  west  side  of  the  Uncoway 
River,  which  he  sold  in  1653,  to  Samuel  Morehouse.  His  home-lot  was  bounded  n.w.  with  Nathan 


GENEALOGIES  383 

Gold's  pasture-lot,  n.e.  the  Uncoway  mill-creek  at  high  water-mark,  s.e.  highway,  &  ?.w.  with  his 
own  land.  He  removed  after  selling  the  mill,  to  Pequonnock  &  purchased,  the  house  &  home-lot 
of  Thomas  Wheeler  jr.  He  was  made  a  freeman  10.  Oct.  1669  &  was  one  of  the  dividend  land 
holders  of  the  town.  His  will  is  dated  n.  Nov  1682,  in  which  he  provides  for  a  wife  (Christian 
name  not  mentioned; ;  to  s.  Moses  housing  &  Ludlow's  lot,  except  one  acre  at  Pequonnock,  land 
in  Uncoway  Indian  Fields;  i  of  his  pasture-lot,  building-lot  &  long-lot;  to  the  children  of  his 
deceased  d.  Hannah,  who  hadm.  Philip  Galpin,  $£.  each  when  of  age  ;  to  s.  Samuell  land  previously 
deeded  him,  several  parcels  of  land  £  \  of  his  pasture-lot,  building-lot  &  long-lot  ;  to  grand-son 
Aloses  Jackson  4  acres  at  Try's  Field,  bounded  n.w.  with  highway  that  goes  through  the  field;  s.w. 
John  Roots,  s.e.  the  Indian  Field,  n.e.  land  that  was  Richard  Fowles,  also  his  Compo  allotment  ; 
to  s.  John  i  of  his  pasture-lot,  building-lot  &  long  lot ;  to  his  grand-son  Samuel  Jackson,  his  loom 
&  "all  things  thereto  belonging;  &  to  his  wife  his  best  feather-bed  &  bedstead,  curtains  &  val- 
ance, &  all  the  furniture  thereto  belonging  ;  the  bigest  kettle  and  his  house  in  town,  &  the  least 
kettle,  the  middle  iron-pot,  the  bell-metal  skillet,  the  red  cow  &  her  calf,  also  the  third  part  of  his 
pewter  dishes,  spoons,  &  beer-vessels  in  his  house  at  Pequonnock,  the  great  chest  &  her  own 
chests,  the  use  of  housing  &  lands  at  town,  with  its  table,  stools  &  chairs,  with  any  other  of  the 
house-hold  estate,  except  the  axe,  that  is  commonly  called  Dina's  axe,",  ',  of  table  linen,  &  if  left 
alone,  the  old,  negro  woman  to  care  for  her  ;&  6£.  per  annum  from  sons  Moses  &  Samuel;  to  s.  Joseph's 
five  children,  under  the  guardianship  of  s.  Samuel  $£,  each  of  them  to  receive  20s  when  of  age  ; 
to  Major  Nathan  Gold  &  Josiah  Harvey,  as  over-seers  of  his  estate  2o£.  Upon  the  death  of  his 
wife  the  house  at  F.  &  all  things  belonging  to  it,  were  to  be  divided  between  his  s.  Joseph's  five 
children,  allowing  the  eldest  son  a  double  portion.  He  requests  that  the  share  of  his  s.  Joseph's 
widow  in  her  father-in-law  George  Goodwin's  estate,  be  paid  over  to  the  estate  of  Joseph's  children. 
He  entailed  all  his  estate  to  his  surviving  male  heirs,  in  case  of  the  death  of  any  one  of  his  sons. 

SAMUEL  i.  s  of  Henry  Jackson  I.  m. d.  of Their  children  were  Samuel  b.  ; 

Nathaniel  6.  March  167 —  ;  Hannah  17.  March  167 — ,  (the  last  figures  are  obliterated  with  age  of 
book  A.  F.  T.  D.) 

Moses  I.  s.  of  Henry  Jackson  i.  m.  Deborah  d.  of  John  Hide  I.,  24.  Oct.  1672.  Their 
children  were  Rebecca  b.  10.  May  1674  ;  Deborah  8.  Feb.  1678.  F.  T.  Rec. 

Joseph  s.  of  Henry  Jackson  I.  m.  first d.  of  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Seeley,  &  second,  a  d.  of 

George  Goodwin  i.  of  F.,  by  whom  he  had  five  children  &  d.  young,  leaving  s.  Joseph  &  two  minor 
children,  Abigail  &  Eleanor. —  He  may  have  left  older  children. 

John  s.  of  Henry  Jackson  I.  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  town  of  F.  to  build  a  corn  & 
fulling  mill  6.  Jan.  1686.  over  the  Uncoway  River,  at  the  present  time  known  as  Moody's  Mill,  near 
Mountain  Grove  Cemetery  at  Bridgeport.  He  was  granted  8  acres  of  land  on  the  north  side  of 
the  mill,  &  two  acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  &  highway. 

EPHRAIM  JACKSON  (b.  Oct.  1704)  &  Martha  Couch  were  m.  Nov.  1727,  &  had  son  Joseph  b. 
Nov.  1728.  lie  m.  second  wife  Martha  Blackman  June  1730,  sd.  Martha  was  I).  Oct.  1708. 
Their  children  were  Martha  b.  8  Sept.  1731  ;  Daniel  16  May  1733  ;  David  28.  Oct.  1736,  Ephraim 
10  Sept.  1741. 

MARY  JACKSON  of  Newark,  presented  a  letter  to  the  first  Congregational  Church  of  Pequonnock. 
which  was  accepted  20.  Dec.  1697. 

JENNINGS 

JOSHUA  JENNING'S  name  appears  at  Hartford  in  1648.  A  great  deal  has  been  said  in  a  blind 
way  about  his  misconduct  at  Hartford,  by  writers  who  might  far  better  have  told  precisely  what 
he  did  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  the  Court,  which  was  as  follows  •  At  a  Particular  Court  held  at 
Hartford  6.  Sept.  1649,  ''Joshua  Jennings  for  not  watching  one  night.  &  other  ill  carriage  to 
the  Constable,  is  to  pay  to  the  watchman  in  his  room,  &  is  fined  2s.  6d."  On  the  3.  of  Nov. 


384  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

1650  he  again  fell  under  the  displeasure  of  the  Court.  It  appears  that  he  fled  on  board  a  ship 
lying  in  the  Connecticut  river  from  the  fine  imposed  upon  him,  for  which  the  Court  fined  Greenfell 
Lerreby  5^.  &  Stephen  Daniels  4O5.,  for  conveying  him  from  the  power  of  authority.  They  were 
also  ordered  to  deliver  him  up  to  authority,  if  he  came  on  board  their  ship  again.  He  settled  at  F. 
before  1656,  where  he  always  maintained  an  excellent  reputation.  He  lived  at  Barlows  Plain,  & 
died  leaving  a  good  estate.  He  m.  at  Hartford  22  Dec.  1647  Mary  Williams.  He  died  in  1675. 
The  date  of  his  will  is  the  25.  of  Feb.  1674---  of  the  same  year.  He  left  wife  Mary,  to  whom  he 
gave  a  large  part  of  his  estate  ;  son  Joshua,  to  whom  he  left  his  carpenter,  joiners,  wheel-right  & 
farmers  tools  ;  &  divided  the  remainder  of  his  estate  between  his  sons  &  daughters,  namely, 
Joshua,  Joseph,  Michael,  John,  Samuel,  Matthew  &  Isaac  ;  &  daughters  Mary  &  Elizabeth.  His 
widow  Mary  m.  George  Slawson  of  Stamford  16  Dec.  1680. 

JOSHUA  2.  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.  was  not  bapt.  until  i.  June  1712.  Hem.  d.  of 

Samuel  Lyon.  Their  children  were  Mary,  who  m.  Daniel  Burr,  Hannah  m.  Peter  Sturgis,  Abigail 
who  m.  Simon  Couch  &  Moses  bapt.  26  Dec  1714,  &  probably  other  children.  The  family  of 
Joshua  Jennings  settled  at  Greens  Farms. 

JOSEPH  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.  m.  Abigail  d.  of  Robert  Turney.  Their  children  were  Eben- 
ezer  &  Abigail  bapt.  28.  Oct  1694.  His  second  w.  was  Sarah  d.  of  Thomas  Bulkley.  Sarah  bapt. 
22.  Aug.  1697  ;  Joseph  14.  May  1698  ;  Martha  II.  Aug  1700  ;  Anne  12.  March  i7O3i  ;  Gershom 
12.  March  I7O91-. 

SAMUEL  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  I.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Michael  Grumman.  Their  children  were 
Michael  bapt.  9,  Sept.  1694  ;  Elizabeth  7,  March  1696^;  Patience  25,  Sept  1698  ;  Sarah  n,  Feb. 
1699^"-"-  who  m.  Daniel  Lyon  ;  Samuel  22,  March  1701^;  Eunice  21,  Jan  1704^  ;  Dorothy  14, 
Sept.  1707  ;  Dorothy  again  13,  Nov.  1709;  Nathan  18,  May  1710!-;  Benjamin  20,  Sept  1713. 
Will  dated  1728. 

MATTHEW  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.,  m. d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Matthew 

bapt.  5,  Sept.  1697  ;  Elizabeth  31,  Oct.  1697;  Daniel  7,  April  1700;  Jeremiah  u,  April  1703  ; 
Mary  19,  Aug  1705  ;  Ruth  n,  April  1708  ;  Hannah  10,  July  1720. 

ISAAC  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.  m. d.  of  Joseph  Beers.  Their  children  were  Isaac  bapt. 

ir,  Oct  1702  ;  Mary  19,  Aug  1705,  who  m.  —  -  Smith  ;  John  n,  May  1707  ;  Josiah  27,  May 
1711  ;  David  31,  Oct  1714.  His  will  is  dated  June  10,  1746,  the  day  of  his  death.  His  tomb 
sto.ne  at  F.,  makes  him  73  yrs.  of  age. 

JOHN  s.  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.  m. d.  of  —  Their  children  were  John  bapt.  12, 

May  1717  ;  Nchemiah  20,  July  1718  ;  Zechariah  22,  Jan  1720^- ;  Sarah  16,  June  1723  ;  Anne  i. 
Aug  1725  ;  Hester  16  July  1727  ;  Nehemiah  3.  Aug  1729  ;  Ephraim  26.  Sept  1731  ;  Hezekiah  7, 
Oct  1733  ;  Abel  14.  Dec.  1735. 

Michael  i.  s.  of  Samuel  Jennings  i.,  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of Their  children  were:  Elizabeth 

&  Hannah  bapt.  20,  Dec.  1719  ;  Obedience  28,  Aug.  1720  &  perhaps  others. 

Jeremiah  i.  s.  of  Mathew  Jennings  i.,  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of—  Their  children  were:  Eliza- 

beth bapt  22.  Oct.  1727  ;  Sarah  14.  May  1732  ;  Ruth  21.  March  1735  6  ;  Sarah  6.  Aug.  1738  ;  Jere- 
miah 21.  Sept.  1743  ;  Peter  12.  June  1743. 

ISAAC  2.  s.  of  Isaac  Jennings  i.  m.  Phebe  d.  of  -  Their  children  were  :  Abigail 

bapt.  14.  Sept.  1729  ;  Seth  2.  Jan.  1731  '»  ;  Moses  19.  Aug.  1733  ;  Levi  Nov.  1735  ;  Lucretia 
16.  Oct.  1737  ;  Jacob  9.  Dec.  1739  ;  Hannah  16.  June  1745  ;  Ellen  22.  Nov.  1747.  Isaac  Jen- 
nings 2.  made  his  will  Jan.  20.  1758  giving  his  property  to  his  wid.  Phebe.  to  his  grand  daughter 
Esther,  d.  Lucretia.  &  to  his  five  sons.  He  d.  6.  March  1760,  aged  58;  &  his  will  was  proved  on 
the  27.  of  March  following.  His  grand  daughter  Esther  was  ad.  of  his  son  Seth,  &  was  the  grand- 
mother of  Mrs.  Esther  Huntington  &  her  brother  Morris  Lyon  of  F.  Mrs.  Huntington  is  known 
at  the  present  day,  as  the  leading  spirit  in  matters  of  historical  interest  in  F.  ;  &  her  honored 
brother,  Morris  Lyon,  is  the  founder  of  the  valualuable  Fairfield  Library.— Lucretia,  d.  of  the 


GENEALOGIES  385 

above  Isaac  2.  was  the  grandmother  of  the  late  Frederick  Marquand  of  Southport,  &  of  his  brother 
Henry  Marquand  of  New  York  city.  Frederick  Marquand  erected  the  Marquand  Chapel  of  Yale 
College.  He  gave  a  fine  library  &  building  for  its  use  at  Southport.  besides  other  liberal  gifts  else- 
where. Henry  Marquand  is  widely  known  for  his  munificent  art  donation-,  to  the  Metropolitan 
Museum  of  Art  in  New  York  City. 

ISAAC  3  s  of  Isaac  Jennings  2.,  d.  Jan.  9.  1819.  aged  75  yrs.  His  children  were  Elizabeth. 
Abigail,  Phebe,  Abraham  Gould  Jennings  of  Brooklyn,  Anna,  Isaac  4.  Seth  &  Polly.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  this  last  Isaac  4  Jennings  at  Fairfield,  are  Oliver  Burr  Jennings,  &  Charles  Buelkley 
Jennings  s.  of  the  late  Hon.  Isaac  Jennings. 

The  heirs  of  Joshua  Jennings  i.  for  many  years  made  fruitless  efforts  to  establish  a  lawful 
claim  to  the  vast  estate  of  William  Jennings  of  Acton  Place,  born  in  1701  &  who  d.  19  June  1798, 
leaving  estates  in  eleven  counties  in  England,  &  millions  in  pounds  sterling  in  nearly  all  the  banks 
of  London.  To  establish  such  a  claim.  &  to  link  the  heirs  of  Joshua  Jennings,  who  d.  in  1675, 
with  William  Jennings  of  Acton  place  who  d,  in  1798,  would  be  a  remarkable  undertaking. 
The  property  of  this  rich  William  Jennings  was  claimed  in  par'.,  by  the  Baroness  Howe,  a 
daughter  of  the  celebrated  Admiral  Howe,  through  a  claim  of  intermarriage  with  the  Jennings 
family  with  that  of  Curzens.  The  Earl  Beuchamp  (or  Becham),  also  claimed  heirship.  Some 
clue  in  this  way,  may  be  given  to  Robert  Beacham  or  Beuchamp  of  early  Greens  Farms.  This 
William  Jennings  was  the  only  child  of  Robert  Jennens  &  Ann  daughter  &  heir  of  Carew  Guidott 
Esqr.  of  Hampshire,  while  Robert  J.  was  the  fifth  son  £  heir  of  Humphrey  Jennens,  an  iron 
master  of  Birmingham  Eng.  who  married  Mary  Milward.  This  William  Jennings  was  at  one  time 
a(  page  to  King  William  III,  who  was  his  godfather.  He  was  also  a  nephew  of  Sarah 
Jennings,  a  maid  of  honor  &  the  favorite  of  Queen  Ann,  who  married  the  great  Duke  of  Marl- 
borough. 

No  record  of  the  birth  Joshua  Jennings  or  of  his  parentage,  has  ever  been  found  in  Eng- 
land or  America. 

The  descendents  of  Joshua  Jennings  settled  at  Fairfield,  Pequonnock,  Green's  Farms,  Green- 
field &  throughout  the  county  of  F.,  &  are  to  be  found  in  almost  every  state  of  the  Union,  until 
they  have  become  in  numbers  like  the  sands  upon  the  sea  shore  Many  distinguished  men  & 
women  belong  to  this  family,  among  whom  was  Capt.  Nathan  Jennings  of  Fairfield  Woods, 
whose  daughter  Mary  m.  the  late  Commodore  Reid  of  the  United  States  Navy,  &  who  was  one  of 
twenty  ladies  to  embroider  and  make  the  first  flag,  with  its  stars  &  stripes,  of  the  United 
States.  Mrs.  Reid  was  also  the  mother  of  Madam  de  Cesnola,  the  wife  of  the  distinguished 
General  de  Cesnola,  President  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  of  New  York  City 

Francis  A.  White,  the  president  of  the  Danbury  &  Boston  R.R.  Co.  is  also  a  descendent 
of  this  family,  his  mother  having  been  Marietta  d.  of  John  Jennings  2.  as  follows  : 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Jennings  i.  m  Sarah  —  —  who  resided  at  Greenfield.     Their  children 

were  Thaddeus,  b.  31.  Aug.  1732,  Aaron  b.  31.  Sept.  1734,  Susan  b.  28.  March  1741.  Mary  b.  5. 
Dec  1743.  David  b.  27.  June  1746,  Josiah  b.  15:  Sept.  1748,  Sarah  b.  14.  April  1751,  Joel  b.  13 
July  1753 .— G.  H.  Par  Rec. 

THADDEUS  2.  s  of  Thaddeus  Jennings  i.,  b.  31.  Aug.  1732.  m.  Lavinia  Burnt  of  New- 
Haven.  Their  children  were  Burrit  b.  14.  Jan.  1759,  Appollina  b.  8.  March  1761,  Philoman 
b.  27.  March  1763,  Sylvinus  b.  5.  May  1765,  Thaddeus  b.  21.  June  1767.— G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 
— Besides  the  above  he  had  ds.  Susan  &  Polly. 

PHILEMAN  i.    s.  of  Thaddeus  Jennings  2.,  m.  -         -    Beach.   &  had  the  following  children 

Beach,  Charles,  Maritta  &  Ann.     Marietta  Jennings  m.  Elijah   White  of  Franklin    Del.  Co.  N.  Y. 

in  1819,  &  had  five  children  as  follows  :  Maria  H.,  Francis  A.,  Charles  J.,  Ann  Eliza  &  George  F. 

Francis  A.  White  is  a  descendant  of  Peregrine  White,  who  was  born  on  the  ship  Mayflower  in  1620. 

25 


386  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

THE  JESUP  OK  JESSUP  1'AMILY 

BY    PROFESSOR    HENRY    G.    JESUP,   OF    DARTMOUTH    COLLEGE 

EDWARD  JESSUP,  the  ancestor  of  the  Fairfield  family  of  this  name,  was  an  Englishman,  and 
probably  from  Yorkshire.  He  was  a  citizen  of  Stamford  in  1649.  Earlier  than  this  he  may  have 
been  in  Fairfield,  as  the  town  records  show  that  in  1653  he  sold  land  on  Sasco  Neck.  In  656  he 
had  removed  to  Middleborough  (Newtown)  Long  Island,  where  he  was  a  magistrate  under  the 
Dutch  Government  from  1659  to  1662.  Subsequently  he  became  one  of  the  original  patentees  of 
West  Farms,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  1663  the  Connecticut  colony,  which  claimed  jurisdiction, 
appointed  him  "Commissioner"  (magistrate)  for  the  town  of  Westchester,  and  again  in  1664, 
while  in  1665  he  represented  the  same  town  at  a  meeting  of  deputies  convened  at  Hempstead, 
L.  I.,  by  Gov.  Nicolls  of  N.  Y.  His  will  bears  date  6  Aug.,  1666,  the  year  of  his  death,  and  is 
one  of  the  earliest  English  wills  recorded  in  New  York  city. 

His  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth,  presumably  the  sister  of  John  Burroughs  of  Newtown,  to 
whom  he  refers  in  his  will  as  his  "  beloved  brother-in-law,"  and  who  for  many  years  was  clerk  of 
that  town,  where  his  descendants  are  still  found.  In  1668,  the  widow  married  Robert  Beacham 
(Beauchamp)  of  Fairfield  and  removed  there  with  her  two  younger  children.  They  lived  in  the 
present  parish  of  Green's  Farms,  then  called  Bankside,  and  now  within  the  town  of  Westport. 

The  children  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Jessup  were  three  : 

r.  ELIZABETH,  who  before  1666  married  Thomas  Hunt,  Jr.,  the  son  of  Thomas  Hunt  of 
Westchester,  N.  Y.  They  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters  and  from  them  descend  the  Hunts 
of  Hunt's  Point  in  the  same  town.  The  late  Justice  Ward  Hunt  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court,  was  of  this  family,  as  also  his  kinsman  Hon.  James  B.  Hunt,  member  of  Congress  from 
Michigan  1853-1857.  (See  Hunt  Genealogy.) 

2.  HANNAH  who  married  Joseph  (perhaps  Joseph  Lockwood,  Beacham's  son-in-law)  and 

lived  in  Green's  Farms,  and  died  before  the  mother. 

3.  EDWARD,  born   in   1663,  who  came   to    Fairfield  when  five  years  old,  and  through  whom 
the  name  has  been  perpetuated  to  the  present  time. 

EDWARD  JESSUP  above,  of  the  second  generation,  in  1692  married  Elizabeth  Hide,  grand- 
daughter of  Humphrey  Hide  of  Fairfield,  and  their  descendants  are  very  numerous  and  widely 
scattered  throughout  the  country.  About  1720  they  both  removed  to  Stamford,  where  they  died. 
They  lie  buried  in  an  old  cemetery  near  Noroton  river,  now  within  the  town  of  Darien. 

Their  children  were  nine,  all  born  in  Green's  Farms  : 

1.  ELIZABETH,   horn  ir   Feb.,    1693,  married  John  Smith,   and    lived    near  Greenfield  Hill. 
They  had  eleven  children,  seven  of  them  sons. 

2.  HANNAH  married  Jo/in,  son  of  Jonathan  Reynolds,  and  lived  in  Greenwich. 

3.  ABILENA,  baptized  13  Sept.,  1696,  married  John  Darling  of  Fairfield,  and  lived  near  Green- 
field Hill.      They  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter. 

4  EDWARD,  baptized  7  March,  1697,  took  the  homestead  farm,  when  his  father  went  to  Stam- 
ford. He  was  known  as  "  Capt.  Edward,"  and  married,  7  Dec.,  1724,  Sarah  Blackleach,  daughter 
of  Richard  Blackleach  of  Stratford.  They  had  seven  children.  Of  the  two  sons  Blackleach  Jesup 
of  Wilton  was  three  times  married,  and  the  father  of  nineteen  children.  He  was  the  ancestor  of 
Major-General  Thomas  S.  Jesup,  U.  S.  A.  (a  grandson),  Col.  Samuel  Blackleach  Jesup  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jesup  Eames,  the  poetess.  Edward  C.  Delavan  Esqr.  of  New  York 
city  (Yale  College,  class  1836),  is  a  grandson. 

The  second  son,  Dr.  Ebenezer  Jesup  (Y.  C.  class  of  1760),  was  a  physician  of  repute.  He 
succeeded  to  the  homestead  in  Green's  Farms,  which  was  afterwards  destroyed  at  the  burning  of 
Fairfield  by  the  British  in  1779.  He  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolution,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  an 
officer  in  the  Green's  Farms  Church  for  many  years,  and  greatly  respected.  Like  his  brother,  he 


GENEALOGIES  387 

also  was  thrice  married  ;  1st.  to  Eleanor  Andrews,  2d.  Abigail  Squire,  3d.  Anna  Wyncoop.  He 
had  eleven  children.  The  late  Major  Ebenezer  Jesup  of  \Vestport  was  his  son,  and  the  village  of 
Saugatuck,  which  preceded  the  town  organization,  was  largely  the  result  of  his  energy  and  busi- 
ness enterprise.  James  R.  Jesup  Esqr.  (Y.  C.  1840),  a  lawyer,  and  Morris  K.  Jesup  Esqr., 
banker,  President  of  the  Museum  of  Natural  History,  etc..  both  of  New  York  city,  are  great-grand 
children,  as  was  also  Hon.  Edward  Jesup  Wood,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Indiana. 

Through  the  daughters  of  Capt.  Edward,  there  is  an  extensive  connection  with  families  of 
other  and  well  known  Fairfieid  names.  "  Jesup"  as  a  Christian  name  occurs  in  no  less  than  nine 
families.  Judge  Jesup  Couch  of  Ohio  (Y.  C.  1802),  Major-General  Darius  Nash  Couch  of  Nor- 
walk.  Horace  Staples  Esqr.  of  Westport,  and  Hon.  Jedd  P.  C.  Cottrill  (University  of  Vt.  1852),  a 
distinguished  lawyer  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  are  descendants  of  Elizabeth  Jesup,  the  sister  of  Black- 
leach  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  above  mentioned.  Another  sister  married  Stephen  Wakeman  (Y  C. 
'738),  whose  descendants  are  still  numerous  and  influential  in  the  town. 

5.  JOSEPH,  baptized  4  July,  1699,  married  Abigail  James  and  lived  in  Stamford,  and  subse- 
quently in  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.     His  three  sons,  Edward,  Joseph  and  Ebenezer,  settled  in  Albany 
Co.  in  that  state.     They  were  men  of  education  and  the  friends  of  Sir  \Vm.  Johnson,  and  received 
from  the  colonial  government  of  New  York,  very  large  grants  of  land  located  near  the  head  waters 
of  the  Hudson  river.     Jessup's  Falls  and  Jessup's  Landing  near  Luzerne  were  named  for  them. 
This  family    were  loyalists,  and  about  1777  removed  to  Canada,  where  Joseph  the  father   soon 
after  died  in  Montreal.     All  the  sons  were  officers  in  Gen.  Burgoyne's  army.     The  late  James 
Jessup  Esqr.  of  Brockville,  lawyer  and  member  of  the  Dominion  Parliament,  was  a  grandson  of 
Major  Edward  Jessup.     Another  grandson  is  Dr.  Hamilton  Dibble  Jessup,  for  many  years  Col- 
lector of  Customs  at  Prescott,  Ont.     Among  the  descendants  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Jessup  are  Admiral 
Sir  Wm.  N.  W.  Hewett,  V.  C.  of  the  English  Navy,  and  his  brothers,   Major  J.  M.  M.  Hewett 
of  the  English  Army,  and  Edward  Hyde  Hewett  Esqr.,  Consul  at  Fernando  Po. 

6.  DEBORAH,  baptized  12  July,  1702,  married   Obadiah   Stevens  and  lived  in  Middlesex,  now 
Darien. 

7.  JONATHAN,  born  3  Aug.,  1707,  and  lived  in  Greenwich.     His  wife's  name  was  Sarah,  and 
they  had   eight  children  (six    sons),  and  a  very  numerous    posterity.       Rufus  A.   Lockwood   of 
Indiana,  whose  real  name  was  Jonathan  Trumbull  Jessup,  a  brilliant  but  eccentric  lawyer,  was  of 
this  branch  of  the  family,  as  are  also  Charles  A.  Jessup,  M.D.  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Wm.  H.  Webb 
of  New  York  city,  the  ship  builder,  and  Luke  A.  Lockwood  Esqr.  of  Greenwich  ^  Trinity  College 
1855),  a  member  of  the  New  York  Bar,  and  a  trustee  of  his  college. 

8.  SARAH,  baptized  15   March,  1713,  married  Lieut.  Jonathan  Dibble  of  New  York  city  and 
afterwards  of  Stamford.     They  had  one  son  (George)  and  four  daughters.     Two  of  these  daughters 
married  their  cousins  Major  Edward  and  Col.  Ebenezer  Jessup   the  loyalists.      Col.  George   E. 
Waring  Jr.  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  the   civil   engineer  and  author,  and  James    B.  Cooper  Esq.  of 
Babylon  N.  Y.  belong  here. 

9  EBENEZER,  baptized  15  March,  1714,  a  sea-captain,  who  made  many  voyages,  and  died  at 
Stamford,  unmarried. 

The  later  generations  have  largely  emigrated  from  the  State  of  Connecticut,  and  found  homes 
in  New  York,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Kentucky,  Washington,  D.  C.,  the  Pacific  states,  Canada, 
etc.  (See  Genealogy  of  the  Family). 

JONES 

JOANES,  JONES. — But  little  is  known  of  the  history  of  the  Rev.  John  Joanes  who  became  the 
first  minister  of  F.  in  1644.  Some  writers  state  that  he  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  W™  Jones  of 
Abergarveny,  in  Monmouthshire,  Wales  ;  but  this  account,  as  well  as  the  statement  that  he  was 
matriculated  at  Jesus  College,  Cambridge  30.  April  1624  at  the  age  of  17,  is  disputed  by  writers  of 


388  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

the  present  day.  He,  however,  had  been  educated,  &  regularly  ordained  a  clergyman  of  the 
Church  of  England.  He  married  in  the  mother  country,  &  had  several  children  born  there, 
He  settled  at  Concord,  Mass.,  &  on  the  6.  April  1637,  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  gathered  there  July  1636.  At  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Peter  Buckley  was  ordained 
teacher.  Both  gentlemen,  before  their  oidination,  were  called  upon  to  renounce  their  Episcopal 
vows,  and  express  regret  that  they  had  ever  been  ministers  in  the  Church  of  England  ;  which  harsh 
requirement,  was  the  cause  of  a  considerable  comment  among  the  magistrates  &  ministers  of  the 
colonies.*  The  feelings  of  those  who  had  been  silenced  for  non-conformity,  were  in  some  cases 
very  bitter.  Soon  difficulty  arose  about  the  support  of  two  ministers  ;  &  great  dissatisfaction 
prevailed  in  the  settlement  in  regard  to  barren  soil,  &  marshy  land.  Many  emigrated  to  other 
plantations  ;  &  as  some  turned  their  faces  towards  Fairfield,  Mr.  Joanes  resolved  to  join  the 
latter  company  &  view  the  beautiful  country,  of  which  such  glowing  accounts  had  been  given 
him. 

Cotton  Mather  divided  the  first  ministers  of  New  England  into  three  classes  ;  i.  those  who 
were  ''in  the  actual  exercise  of  their  ministry  when  they  left  England,  &  were  the  instruments  of 
bringing  the  gospel  into  the  wilderness  ;''  2.  young  scholars  whose  ed^^cat^on  for  their  designed 
ministry,  not  being  finished,  yet  came  from  England  with  their  friends,  &  had  their  education  per- 
fected in  this  country  ;  3.  "all  such  ministers  as  came  over  to  New  England,  after  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  the  Episcopal-church-government  in  England,  &  the  persecution  which  then  hurricanoed 
such  as  were  non-conformists  unto  the  establishment."  f  Mr.  Joanes  is  ranked  among  those  of  the 
first  class.  "  The  occasion,"  continues  Mr.  Mather,  "  upon  which  those  excellent  ministers  retired 
into  a  horrid  wilderness  of  America,  was  the  violent  perseciitions ,  wherewith  a  prevailing  party  in 
the  Church  of  England  harrassed  them.  In  their  own  land  they  were  hereby  deprived,  not  only  of 
their  livings,  but  also  of  their  liberty ,  to  exercise  their  ministry,  which  was  dearer  to  them  than 
their  livings,  yea,  than  their  very  lives  :  &  they  were  exposed  unto  extreme  sufferings,  because 
they  conscientiously  dissented  from  the  use  of  some  things  in  the  worship  of  God,  which  they 
accounted  sin." 

"  Some  of  the  ministers.  &  many  of  the  gentlemen  that  came  over  with  the  ministers,  were 
persons  of  considerable  estates  ;  who  therewith  charitably  brought  over  many  poor-families  of  godly 
people,  that  were  not  of  themselves  able  to  bear  the  charges  of  their  transportation  ;  &  they  were 
generally  careful  also  to  bring  over  none  but  godly  servants  in  their  own  families,  who  afterwards 
by  God's  blessing  on  their  industry  have  arrived,  many  of  them,  unto  such  pleasant  estates,  that 
they  have  had  occasion  to  think  of  the  advice,  which  a  famous  person,  gave  in  a  public  sermon,  at 
their  first  coming  over;  "you  (said  he)  that  are  servants,  mark  what  I  say ;  I  desire  &1  exhcrt 
yju  to  be  kind  awhile  hence,  unto  your  master 's  children.  It  wont  be  long  before,  you  that  came  with 
nothing  into  the  country,  will  be  rich  men,  when  your  masters,  having  buried  their  rich  estates  in  the 
country,  will  go  near  to  leave  their  families  in  a  mean  condition  ;  wherefore  when  it  shall  be  well 
with  you.  I  charge  you  to  remember  them.'" 

*  Shattuck's  Hist.  Concord,  &  Lechford's  Plain  Dealing-. 

t  Cotton  Mather  mentions  a  fourth  class  of  ministers,  whom  he  ranks  under  the  head  of  anomalies  of  New 
England,  of  whom  he  confesses  that  some  of  them  deserve  to  live  in  his  book  for  their  piety ;  "although  their 
peculiar  opinions,  were  such  as  to  be  disser  viceablc  unto  the  declared  &  supposed  interests  of  our  churches.  .  .  . 
There  were  also  some  godly  Episcopalians  ;  among  whom  has  been  commonly  reckoned  Mr.  Blackstone,  who  by 
happening  to  sleep  first  in  an  hovel,  upon  a  point  of  land  there,  laid  claim  to  all  the  grounds,  whereupon  now 
stands  the  -metropolis  of  the  whole  English  America,  until  the  inhabitants  gave  him  satisfaction.  This  man  was 
indeed  of  a  peculiar  humor,  &  he  would  never  join  himself  to  any  of  our  churches,  giving  this  reason  for  it :  '  / 
came  from  England,  because  I  did  not  like  the  lord-bishops;  but  I  cant  join  with  you,  because  I  -would  not  be 
tinder  the  lord-brethren.'1  "  — Magnaha  Vol.  i.  H.  3.  p.  221. 

The  fact  is,  the  Rev.  John  Blackstone  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  who  had  been  silenced  for 
non  conformity,  &  came  to  this  country  with  Sir  Fernando  Gorge's  party.  He  remained  here  with  few 
others,  after  Gorges  &  his  company  returned  to  England,  &  regularly  purchased  of  the  Indians  the  greater  part 
of  Boston  which  he  had  owned  about  eight  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Company. 


GENEALOGIES  389 

From  the  valuable  autobiography  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  it  is  found  that  the  Rev.  John 
Joanes  was  a  fellow  passenger  in  the  ship  Defence  from  London,  which  arrived  at  Boston  on  the 
3.  of  Oct.  1635  ;  yet  neither  the  names  of  the  Reverends  Messrs.  Thomas  Shepard  or  John  Jones,* 
Hugh  Peters,  John  Norton  or  John  Wilson,  who  came  with  him,  appear  in  the  Custom  House  list 
of  passengers.  It  is  possible  that  they  came  under  assumed  names,  as  many  efforts  had  been  made 
to  detain  Mr.  Shepard  in  England,  &  Mr.  Wilson  had  suffered  for  non-conformity ;  in  fact,  it  was 
a  difficult  matter  for  either  ministers  or  persons  of  note  to  escape  from  England,  while  under  the 
ban  of  non-conformity,  without  imminent  danger  of  seizure  &  imprisonment.! 

The  names  of  Mr.  Joanes  family,  however,  appear  in  the  Custom  House  list  of  passengers 
who  came  in  the  ship  Defence  at  that  time,  viz.:  "  Sarah  Jones  his  wife  aged  34,  &  his  children 
Sarah  Jones  aged  15,  John  Jones  ir,  Ruth  7,  Theophilus  3,  Rebecca  2,  &  Elizabeth  C  months." 

In  Cotton  Mather's  Life  of  the  Rev.  John  Wilson  he  says  :  "  Having  dispatched  his  affairs 
in  England,  he  again  embarked  for  New  England,  in  company  with  four  ministers,  &  nearly  two 
hundred  passengers,  whereof  some  were  persons  of  considerable  quality  :  but  they  had  all  been  lost 
by  a  large  leak  sprang  in  the  ship,  if  God  had  not,  on  a  day  of  solemn  fasting  &  prayer  kept  on 
board  for  that  purpose,  mercifully,  discovered  this  dangerous  leak  unto  them."  In  his  life  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  he  writes,  "  that  the  perils  which  Mr.  Shepard  suffered  from  his  own 
countrymen,  compelled  him  once  more  to  encounter  the  perils  of  the  sea,  so  that  in  July  1635,  he 
sailed  from  Gravesend,  in  a  bottom  too  decayed  &  feeble  indeed  for  such  a  voiage  ;  but  yet  well 
accommodated  with  the  society  of  Mr.  Wilson,  Mr.  Joanes  &  other  Christians,  which  more  signifi- 
cantly make  good  the  name  of  the  ship,  The  Defence.  In  the  first  storm  the  vessel  sprang  a  leak, 
which  let  in  the  water  faster  than  both  pump  were  able  to  turn  it  out  ;  a  leak  eighteen  inches  long 
&  an  inch  wide  ;  but  it  was,  though  with  much  difficulty,  stopped,  just  as  they  were  upon  diverting 
into  Ireland  for  safety.  Being  thus  again  delivered,  they  got  into  New  England,  &  on  the  3.  of 
Oct.  they  were  set  ashore  at  Boston." 

From  a  letter  written  by  the  Rev.  John  Joanes  to  Governor  Winthrop  soon  after  he  settled  at 
Fairfield,  it  would  appear  that  upon  his  arrival  in  New  England,  he  was  entertained  by  Governor 
Winthrop  in  the  great  house  at  Boston. 

Not  long  after  his  coming,  he  accompanied  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley  &  their  followers  to 
Musketaquid  or  Concord.  The  description  of  this  journey 'by  Johnson,  in  his  Wonder-working 
Providence  or  Zion's  Saviour,  is  of  the  most  touching  character. 

It  appears  that  Mr.  Jones  was  not  at  first  altogether  satisfied  with  Fairfield,  which  he  expressed 
in  the  following  letter.  The  increasing  population,  however,  &  the  society  of  his  children  & 
friends  soon  raised  his  spirits  &  he  became  content  to  remain  among  them. 

"To  the  \Vorfu11  Mr.  John  Winthrope  at  Pequot  these  present,  Leave  this  letter  wth  Mr. 
"  Hopkins  at  Hartford  to  be  sent. 

Fairfield  Mar.  5—  46  [-7]. 

"  Sr  Yo"  of  Feb.  22.  I  received,  being  very  sorrye  yr  my  absence  from  home  at  ye  time  when 
"  yor  messenger  came  hither,  hath  deprived  of  soe  fit  an  oppertunity  of  returning  an  answeare.  I 
"  I  perceue  by  y'  letter  y'  Adam,  ye  Indian  hath  informed  yow  how  ye  case  stands  wlh  me. 
"  And  indeed  I,  despairing  of  a  convenient  passage  vnto  yow  before  y*  Spring,  did  engage  myselfe 
"to  keepe  a  lecture  here  vntill  ye  season  of  ye  yeare  would  permit!  me  to  remoue,  soe  that  my 
"  engagements  here  being  ended  wth  the  winter,  it  is  my  desire,  &  full  resolution  (if  God  permitt) 

*  "  The  Rev.  John  Joanes,  was  as  his  name  implies,  of  Welsh  extraction.  The  family  in  Wales  bearing  his 
patronymic,  however,  are  so  numerous,  that  an  attempt  to  trace  his  pedigree  from  any  published  records,  would 
seem  to  be  a  taskalrrost  impossible.''— New  York  Gen  &  Biogl  Record. 

t  "  That  which  made  the  hardships  of  the  Puritans  leaving  England  most  discouraging,  was  the  terrible 
zeal  of  their  enemies  to  guard  all  ports  &  search  all  ships,  that  none  of  them  should  be  carried  off." — Magnolia 
Vcl  i.  B.  2,  p.  ioo. 


390  HISTORY   OF  FAIRFIELD 

"  to  take  ye  first  opportunity  of  coming  to  yow,  either  by  land  or  water.  For  other  passages  in 
"  yor  letter,  I  hope  to  answeare  them  by  word  of  mouth  shortly.  In  ye  meantime,  I  desire 
"  yorpraires  for  ye  guidance  of  heawen,  &  wth  my  seruice  &  respects  being  duly  rendered  to  yor 
"  selfe  &  Mrs.  Winthrope,  wth  love  to  all  yor  little  ones,  &  little  Margaret,  I  remaine, 

"  Yors  in  all  observance, 

a 

"  John  Jones." 

A 

He  died  in  January  1665,  probably  about  the  time  he  made  his  will,  which  is  dated  17.  Jan, 
1664*.  In  his  will,  he  mentions  his  wife  Susanna,  showing  that  his  first  wife  Sarah  had  died,  & 

that  he  had  m.  either  before  coming  to  F.  or  soon  after  Susanna a  widow.  It  is  to  be 

regretted  that  some  account  of  Mrs.  Jones  maiden  name,  &  that  of  her  first  husband  cannot  be 
found.  In  A.  of  Town  Deeds  is  the  following  record  :  i  "  Dec  1688.  Thomas  Disborow,  with 
the  consent  of  his  mother-in-law  Susanna  Jones,  &  Mercy,  wife  of  said  Thomas  Disborow,"  pur- 
chased land  at  Compo.  Her  d.  by  her  first  husband  was  no  doubt  the  witch  Mercy  Disborow  of 
Compo,  who,  with  Mrs  Thomas  Staples  &  others  were  tried  at  F.  in  1692,  &  afterwards  pardoned. 
Mr.  Jones  gave  his  wife  Susannah  50^,  his  silver  cup,  &  the  remainder  of  his  lot  adjoining  his 
orchard,  as  her  own  forever  ;  &  also  the  use  of  12  acres  in  the  great  meadow  &  his  orchard,  which, 
at  her  death  were  to  be  divided  among  his  children  John,  Eliphalet,  &  his  four  d  s  Sarah  (Widow 
Ruth  Jarr.es),  Rebecca  Hull  &  Elizabeth  Hill.  To  his  eldest  s.  John  he  gave  a  part  of  his  library 
"  to  wit,  the  works  of  Augustine,  Chrysostom,  &  the  authors  (usually  called  the  fathers)  ;  &  the 
remainder  of  his  estate  to  his  s.  Eliphalet  &  his  daughters.  Mrs.  Jones  sold  the  house  &  home- 
lot  of  about  one  acre  to  Thomas  Bennet  of  F.,  &  moved  to  Compo.  Thomas  Bennet  re-sold  this 
Jones  place  17.  Dec.  1691  to  John  Edwards. 

SARAH  JOANES  m.  Thomas,  s.  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Buckley  of  Concord,  Mass.,  &  came  with  him 
to  F.  in  1644.  Her  second  husband  was  Anthony  Wilson  of  F.  Ruth  who  first  m.  —  -  James,  & 
.afterwards  probably  m.  Richard  s.  of  John  Bouton  of  Norwalk.  He  died  in  1665  leaving  an  only 
child  Ruth  &  widow  Ruth,  &  the  F.  Town  Rec.  state  that  she  &  her  children  received  land  from 
her  father  &  mother  i.Feb.  1692.  Rebecca  Joanes  m.  Cornelius  Hull  of  F.,  Elizabeth  m.  William 
Hill  2.,  the  town  recorder. 

JOHN  JONES  2.,  s.  of  the  Rev.  John  Joanes  of  F,  graduated  at  H.  C.  in  1643,  &  was  made  a 
freeman  in  1645.  He  studied  for  the  ministry,  &  was  employed  as  a  preacher  in  the  western  part 
of  Nevis,  one  of  the  Summer  or  Bermuda  Islands.  He  died  soon  after  he  went  there,  &  his  widow 
Mary  came  to  Ct.  with  their  only  son  John  Jones  ;  &,  as  his  guardian,  sold  his  interest  in  his 
father  &  grand-father  Joanes'  estate  at  F.  to  John  Bulkley.  Mrs.  Jones  soon  after  her  return  m. 
John  Osborn  of  New  Haven,  &  by  her  will,  dated  27.  Dec.  1673,  says  Savage,  gave  most  of  her 
estate  of  So8£.  to  her  two  sons  John  &  David,  &  her  d.  Mercy  the  wife  of  John  Austin.  The- 
ophilus  probably  died  at  Concord,  Mass. 

ELIPHALET  JONES,  the  youngest  son,  born  9.  Jan  1641,  entered  Harvard  College  in  1662,  but 
did  not  graduate,  probably  on  account  of  his  father's  death,  &  want  of  means  to  complete  his  course. 
In  1664  he  was  appt.  with  others  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  to  assist  in  settling  an  orthodox  minister  at  Rye. 
He  appears  to  have  been  a  very  popular  preacher.  He  was  made  a  freeman  of  Greenwich  in  1669, 
in  which  year  he  received  a  call  to  Jamaica  L.  I.  which  he  declined.  In  1670  the  town  of  Fair- 
field  called  him  to  be  an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  Wakeman,  which  he  also  declined.  In  1672  he 
removed  from  Greenwich  to  Stamford,  &  became  an  assistant  of  the  Rev.  John  Bishop  ;  but  by 
an  invitation  of  the  Gen.  Ct.  he  preached  once  a  fortnight  at  Rye.  While  in  Stamford  he  m. 
Martha,  sister  of  Thomas  Lawrence  of  that  place.*  In  1675  he  was  called  to  preach  at  the 

*  Will  of  Thomas  Lawrence,  F.  Prob.  Files. 
Will  of  Mrs.  Anthony  Wilson,  F.  Prob.  Rec. 


GENEALOGIES  391 

First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Huntington  L.  I.;  but  was  not  regularly  ordained  over  that  church 
until  after  the  death  of  its  former  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  Levcrich  in  1677,  after  which  time  he 
permanently  settled  there.  He  was  ''a  man  of  great  purity  &  simplicity  of  manners,  &  a  faithful 
&  successful  preacher."  He  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  91  years.  &  did  not  require  an  assistant 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  78.  when  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime  [the  ancestor  of  the  distin- 
guished Rev's  Samuel  I.,  Edward  D.  G.  Prime.  Irenaeus  Prime  &  W"?.  C.  Prime  of  New  York] 
was  called  to  assist  him.  He  died  childless,  '  &  bequeathed  his  estate  to  his  sister's  son  Eliphalet 
Hill,  his  namesake,  who,  in  his  declining  years,  took  care  of  him,  &  managed  his  affairs."  Ik- 
was  buried  on  a  beautiful  eminence,  at  the  east  end  of  Main  St.  Fifty  years  afterward  the  British 
demolished  the  church,  &  with  its  timbers  erected  block-houses  &  barracks  over  the  graves, 
which  were  leveled  for  that  purpose,  using  the  tomb  stones  for  building  their  fire-places  &  ovens. 
"One  veritable  chronicler  tells  us  how  he  heard  from  lips  of  living  witnesses,  that  they  had  seen 
these  soldiers  draw  their  loaves  of  bread  from  these  ovens,  having  the  reversed  inscriptions  of  the 
tomb-stones  of  their  friends  on  the  lower  crust!"  About  a  century  afterwards,  those  who  still 
cherished  his  memory,  erected  a  plain  cenotaph  in  their  public  burial  ground,  bearing  the  following 
inscription  :  "  In  Memory  of  Rev.  Eliphalet  Jones,  who  was  the  only  settled  Minister  in  Hunting- 
ton,  from  1676  to  1723.  He  was  born  in  Concord,  Massachusetts,  and  died  between  1730  and 
1740,  near  100  years  old."  New  York  Gen.  &  Biog'1.  Record,  April  1875 — Vol.  6.  p.  57. 

THOMAS  JONES,  perhaps  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  John  Joanes,  or  may  have  been  an  older  son 
than  those  mentioned  above,  settled  at  Concord,  Mass.,  &  afterwards  at  F.  He  was  granted  a 
home-lot  of  2i  acres  on  the  s.  w.  side  of  the  Newton  Square  ;  &  was  made  a  freeman  in  1669. 
He  deeded  to  his  son  Thomas  his  house,  home-lot  &  lands  at  F.  &  removed  to  Huntington  L.  I. 

JOY 

JACOB  JOY  was  invited  to  settle  in  F.  as  a  blacksmith,  an  occupation  in  colonial  days,  honored 
&  respected  by  the  highest  dignitaries  of  the  town.  A  village  black-smith  in  those  days,  had  his 
place  on  the  Meeting-house  Green,  near  the  church,  £  combined  the  art  of  lock-smith  &  gun-smith, 
with  that  of  horse-shoeing.  He  removed  to  Kenilworth,  where  on  the  23.  of  May  1672,  he  m. 
Elizabeth  d.  of  William  Spencer  of  Hartford,  £  widow  of  William  Wellman  of  New  London  & 
Kenilworth.  Their  children  were  Deborah  b.  23.  Feb.  1673  ;  Jacob  14.  March  1675  ;  Walter  14. 
Aug  1677  ;  &  Mary  17.  Sept  1680.  Deborah  m.  19.  Nov.  1691  Andrew  Ward  3.  s.  of  Andrew  2. 
of  Kenilworth.  &  grandson  of  Andrew  Ward  I.  of  F.  Mary  m.  1699  Peter  s.  of  Andrew  Ward  2. 
of  K.  (Savage's  Gen.  Die.). 

JOSEPH  JOY  of  F.,  before  setting  out  on  an  expedition  against  the  French,  via  Albany  to  Can- 
ada, made  the  following  disposition  of  his  estate  to  his  loving  cousins  i.e.  nieces  and  nephews  ;  to 
Joseph  Benit  $£.  £  two  sheep  ;  to  Deborah  Joy  a  cow  £  calf ;  to  Mary  Joy  his  black  two  year  old 
heifer,  £  "  to  Walter  Joy,  the  son  of  his  brother  Jacob,''  all  the  rest  of  his  estate.  (F.  Prob.  Files.) 
Jacob  £  Joseph  Joy  therefore,  were  either  of  the  Boston,  or  Hingham  Joy  family. 

The  Joy  family  in  later  years,  appear  at  F.  &  Pequonnock  &  intermarried  with  the  Elliots  of  F. 

KNAP 

ROGER  KNAP  was  at  New  Haven  between  1643  &  47.  He  afterwards  settled  at  F.  &  owned  a 
good  estate.  In  his  will  of  21.  March  i6723,  he  provided  for  his  widow  Elizabeth;  gave  to  s. 
Jonathan  So.  acres  of  his  long-lot ;  to  Josiah  50.  acres  of  his  long-lot  ;  to  d.  Lydia  to5 ;  to  s. 
Roger,  his  house  &  home-lot,  pasture-lot,  &  other  lands:  to  John  &  Nathaniel,  the  remainder 
of  his  long-lot,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them  ;  to  ds  Elizabeth  &  Mary  5,£.  each.  Jonathan 
died  young,  leaving  a  small  estate  inventoried  i.  Feb.  1676. 


392 


HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 


JOSIAH  s.  of  Roger  Knap  r.  m.  -  -  d.  of  -  Their  children  were  Mary  h.  7.  Nov. 

1677  ;  Jonathan  21.  April  1680.  F.  T.  Rec. 

ROGER  2.  s:  of  Roger  Knap  i.  of  F.  died  in  1691,  &  gave  the  use  of  his  estate  to  his  mother,  & 
at  her  death  to  his  brother  Nathaniel.  In  case  of  their  death  to  his  sister's  children.  His  estate 
fell  to  Susannah,  Charles  &  Alexander  Lane,  the  children  of  Charles  Lane,  who  m.  Elizabeth  the 
sister  of  said  Roger  Knap.  His  will  was  probated  23.  Sept.  1691. 

KNOWLES 

ALEXANDER  KNOWLES  was  made  a  freeman  of  Mass.  7  Deo.  1636.  lie  was  appointed  com- 
missioner in  place  of  Mr.  Allen,  to  form  a  code  of  laws  for  the  .Gen.  Ct.  of  Mass.  7.  Oct.  1645.  He 
sold  land  in  Kittiry,  abutting  on  Pascataqua  River  14.  Oct.  1651  to  that  colony. — [Mass.  Col.  Rec. 
Vol.  3,  p.  4,  6,  252,  253.]  He  removed  to  Fairfield,  &  purchased  17.  Jan.  1653,  Henry  Whelp- 
ley's  house  &  home-lot  on  the  s.  w  corner  of  the  Frost  Square.  He  became  prominent  in  public 
affairs,  &  was  elected  one  of  the  assistant  judges  of  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn.  Dec.  1658.  He  died 
Dec.  1663.  In  his  will  he  mentions  s's  John  &  Joshua  &  d.  Eliza,  wife  of  Thomas  Ford  of  Milford, 
&  her  five  children.  lie  may  have  had  other  children. 

JOHN  I.  s.  of  Alexander  Knowles  I.  settled  at  F.,  &  was  made  a  freeman  in  1664.  He  m. 
Sarah  d.  of  John  Cable  i.  Their  children  were  John  &  Joshua  ;  Rebecca  who  m.  Jonathan  More, 
house  of  F. ;  Sarah  who  first  m.  Capt.  Samuel  Wakeman  2.,  &  second  Dougal  MacKenzie  of  F. ; 
&  Elizabeth  who  first  m.  Joseph  Bulkley  of  F  ,  &  second  Rev.  Joseph  Bishop  of  Stamford,  Ct; 
John  the  father  died  in  i636.  A.  F.  T.  D. 

JOSHTA  s.  of  Alexander  Knowles  i.  m.  d.  of  Sergt.  John  Wheeler.  He  died  intestate. 

His  property  was  divided  26.  March  1715,  between  his  children  as  follows:  d.  Hannah  wife  of 
Joseph  Camp  ;  Lydia  wife  of  -  -  Newton  ;  Joseph,  Mary  &  John  Rogers,  &  Sarah  wife  of 
Abraham  Nichols.  A.  F.  T.  D. 

RICHARD  KNOWLES  was  in  F.  as  early  as  1649.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  he  was  the 
Richard  K.  of  Cambridge,  mentioned  by  Savage  as  having  died  at  Hampton  I.  Feb.  1682. 

Thomas  Mayo  of  F.  m.  Barbara  d.  of  Richard  Knowles  of  Plymouth  13.  June  1677. 
(Savage's  Gen.  Die.)  John  Mayhue  alias  Cohue  died  at  F.  19.  Jan.  1685.  F.  T.  R. 

LOCKWOOD 

ROBERT  LOCKWOOD  came  from  England  in  1630,  requested  to  be  made  a  freeman,  which  was 
granted  9.  March  1631  ;  in  1635  he  was  at  Watertown,  where  he  was  executor  on  the  estate  of 
Edmund  Lockwood  (probably  his  brother),  &  with  his  consent  the  disposal  of  the  children  of  said 
Edmund  L.  was  referred  to  the  church  of  W.  Governor  John  Haynes  &  Simon  Broadstreete  were 
appointed  to  give  them  into  the  care  of  such  persons  as  they  thought  meet,  honorably  acquitting 
Robert  Lockwood.  (Mass.  Col.  Rec.)  He  in.  Susanna  Senison  or  St.  John,  by  whom  he  had 
Jonathan  b.  10.  Sept.  1634  ;  Deborah  12.  Oct.  1636  ;  Joseph  C.  Aug.  1638  ;  Daniel  25.  March 
1640;  Ephraim  i.  Dec.  1641  ;  Gershom  6.  Sept.  1643,  all  b.  at  Watertown.  (Savage's  Gen.  Die.) 
He  removed  to  Fairfield  about  1645,  &  had  John,  Abigail,  Sarah,  Mary  &  Deborah.  He  died  in 
1658,  leaving  widow  Susanna.  &  all  the  above  children  mentioned  in  his  will.  His  widow  m. 
Jeffrey  Ferris  of  Stamford,  who  had  been  the  guardian  of  her  minor  children.  Abigail  Lockwood 
m.  John  Barlow  2.  of  F.  Mary  m.  Jonathan  Iluestead  of  Greenwich. 

LIEUT.  JONATHAN  s.  of  Robert  Lockwood  i.  settled  at   Stamford,  &   in.  Mary  d.  of — 
Their  children  were  Jonathan,   Robert,  Gershom,  Joseph,  John,  &  perhaps  others.      He  sold  his 
estate  in  Stamford  in  1665,  &  removed  to  Greenwich  ;  was  deputy  to  the  Gen.   Ct.  of  Conn.  1671, 
3,  4,  &  6.     Savage's  Gen.  Die. 

SERGT.  JOSEPH  i.  s.  of  Robert  Lockwood  i.  settled  at  Bankside,  &  m.  Isabelle  the  only  child 
of  Robert  Beacham  or  Beauchamp,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Robert,  Susanna.  John  &  Sarah. 


GENEALOGIES  393 

He  died  in  1717,  in  which  year  his  will  dated  17.  June  1715.  was  probated.  His  wife,  son  Robert 
&  d.  Susannah  wife  of  Nathaniel  Burr  2.,  had  died  before  him.  In  his  will  he  gives  lands  and  jn£ 
each  to  Robert  &  Daniel  &  other  unnamed  children  of  his  son  Robert  ;  to  d.  Susanna's  children, 
Nathaniel,  Ephraim,  Sarah  &  Ann  Burr  he  gave  land.  &  movable  estate  ;  to  s  John,  whom  he  made 
his  executor,  he  left  the  remainder  of  his  estate,  with  houses  &  buildings.  To  Nell,  his  negro 
slave,  he  gave  the  privilege  of  living  with  whom  she  pleased.  —  F.  Prov.  Rec. 

DANIEL  i.  s.  of  Robert  Lock  wood  i.  settled  at  Bankside  &  m.  Abigail  d.  of  Daniel  Burr  i. 
s.  of  the  first  Jehue  B.,  &  died  early  in  1692.  leaving  s.  Daniel  aged  22  ;  Abigail  aged  17.  wife  of 
Samuel  Robinson  ;  Mary  aged  10  ;  in  his  will  of  1691%  lie  mentions  brothers  Joseph  Lockwood  & 
Matthew  Sherwood  F.  Prob.  Rec.. 

EPHRAIM  i.  s.  of  Robert  Lockwood  i.  settled  at  Norwalk,  &  m.  8.  June  1665,  Man'  d.  of 
Matthias  Sension  or  St.  John.  &  had  John  b.  19.  March  1666  ;  Daniel  13.  Aug  1668  :  Sarah  3. 
Nov.  1670;  Ephraim  I.  May  1673  ;  Eliphalet  27.  Feb.  1676;  Joseph  I.  April  1680  &  James  21. 
April  1683,  all  named  in  his  will  of  13.  Jan.  1635°,  about  which  time  he  died.  Savage's  Gen. 
Die. 

GERSHOM  I.  s  of  Robert  Lockwood  I.  settled  at  Greenwich.  He  m. d.  of  John  Bur- 
well  &  in  his  will  had  a  son  Gershom.  Savage's  Gen.  Die.  Of  him  I  find  no  more. 

It  is  probable  that  Robert  Lockwood  i.  who  m.  Susannah  St.  John,  was  a  near  kinsman  of  the 
Bulkleys,  from  which  family  the  names  of  Gershom  &  Eliphalet  were  given  to  his  grand  children. 
The  St.  Johns  were  a  distinguished  family  in  England.  The  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  John  Cotton  of  Boston,  in  regard  to  greater  pains  being  needed  in  printing 
the  Bible,  wrote  :  "  I  intend  to  write  to  my  nephew  St.  John  about  it.  A  word  from  yourself  &  Mr. 
Goodwin,  who  is  a  man  of  so  much  respect  there,  would  do  much  good.1'  Shattuck's  Hist.  Con- 
cord. 

A  valuable  account  of  the  Stamford  &  Poundridge  branch  of  the  Lockwoods,  is  to  be  found  in 
Bolton's  valuable  Hist  of  Westchester  County.  See  also  Hall's  Hist,  of  Norwalk,  «S:  Huntington's 
Hist,  of  Stamford.  Many  of  this  name  have  been  graduates  of  the  colleges  of  Yale  &  Trinity,  & 
among  them  the  well  known  lawyer,  Luke  Lockwood  of  Greenwich,  Ct. 

LORD 

ROBERT  LORD  I.  m.  Esther  d.  of  Dr.  William  Ward  &  widow  of  Eliphalet  Hill  of  F.  His 
children  were  Mary  bapt.  21.  Aug.  1698  ;  Abigail  5.  April  1700  ;  Sarah  29.  March  1702,  &  Robert. 
F.  Par.  Rec. 

ROBERT  2.  s.  of  Robert  Lord  i.  in.  Rachel  d.  of &  settled  at  Greenfield.  Their 

children  were  Esther  b.  7.  Nov.  1731  ;  Mary  10.  Feb.  1733-  ;  Samuel  8.  April  1736.  G.  H. 
Par.  Rec. 

LYON 

The  Lyons  were  found  in  Dorchester,  Roxbury,  Salem,  &  other  places  in  the  Mass.  Col., 
as  early  1635. 

Richard  Lyon  was  at  F.  as  early  as  1649,  where  his  house  and  home-lot  of  2  acres,  is 
recorded  Jan.  1653*  ;  was  made  a  freeman  in  1664  (Col.  Rec.  Conn  i.  432).  In  1673  he  recorded 
five  acres  of  land  at  Barlow's  Plain,  &  i8i  acres  on  the  Rocks,  granted  him  for  a  building  lot, 
bounded  n.  w.  &  s.  e.  with  a  highway.  In  his  will  dated  12,  April  1678  he  mentions  s.  Moses, 
to  whom  he  gave  3  of  the  length  of  the  homeward  side  of  his  land  at  Pequonnock,  \  of  the  whole 
length  of  his  long-lot  on  the  s.  w.  side,  other  lands,  his  gun,  a  rapier,  his  biggest  pewter  platter, 
&  confirmed  lands  to  him,  which  he  had  already  given  him.  To  his  s.  Richard  he  gave,  when  of 
age,  ^  of  his  land  at  Pequonuock,  150  acres  of  the  length  of  his  long-lot  east  of  Moses'  part,  & 
other  lands.  To  s.  William  i  of  his  land  at  Pequonnock,  •  of  the  length  of  his  long-lot,  east  of  s. 


394  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Richard's  share,  &  other  lands,  his  long  gun,  buck- sword  &  belt.  To  his  wife  Margaret,  he  gave 
6O;£.  &  the  use  of  his  house,  home-lot  &c,  while  she  remained  his  widow,  &  the  use  of  Joseph's  & 
Samuel's  land  during  their  minority.  To  his  ss.  Samuel  &  Joseph  he  gave  the  homestead  when 
they  became  of  age,  ,'  of  the  length  of  his  long-lot,  to  be  divided  between  them,  &  other  lands. 
To  d.  Hester  w.  of  Nathaniel  Perry  <\£.\  &  to  her  husband  Nathaniel  for  his  s.  Joseph  ?,£. 
"  in  carting  &  plowing."  To  ds,  Betty,  Hannah,  &  Abigail  40^".  each  out  of  his  moveable  estate 
when  19  years  of  age.  He  entailed  each  ss.  &  ds.  portion  in  case  any  one  of  them  died,  to  his 
surviving  children.  He  also  gave  to  his  cousin  Mary  Fitch  7 £. 

MOSES  i.  s.  of  Richard  Lyon  i.  m.  Mary d.  of &  died  before  1696.     F.  T.  D. 

Richard  2.  s.    of  Richard  Lyon  I.  m.  —  —  d.   of Their  children  wrere  Samuel,  Eben- 

ezer,  &  Sarah,  all  bapt.  5  April  1696  ;  Daniel  3.  Oct.  1697  ;  Nathan  13,  Feb.  1703^  ;  Jonathan 
i.  June  1708.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

WILLIAM  s.  of  Richard  Lyon  i.   m.  —    —  d.  of  -  Their  children  were  Nathaniel  bapt. 

9.  Sept.  1694  ;  Benjamin  8.  Sept.  1700  ;  Eunice  16.  Sept.  1716  ;  Tabitha  22.  Jan.  1720—.  F.  Par. 
Rec. 

SAMUEL  I.  s.  of  Richard  Lyon  I.   settled  at  G.    H.,  &  m.   Susanna d.    of .     Their 

children  were  John,  Samuel,  James.  Margaret,  all  bapt.  12.  March  1704-  ;  Abigail  12.  May  1706; 
Ephraim  bapt.  27.  Sept.  1708  ;  Anne  6.  Aug.  1710;  Jemimah  i.  April  1713.  F.  &  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

JOSEPH  s.  of  Richard  Lyon  i.  m.  Abigail d.  of — -.     Their  children  were  Joseph 

bapt.  28  July  1695  ;   David  27.  June  1697.      F.  Par.  Rec. 

This  family  settled  at  Pequonnock,  Greenfield,  Green's  Farms  &  Westport. 

Thomas  Lyon,  probably  a  brother  of  Richard  i.  purchased  in  1654  a  house  of  Thomas  Sherv- 
ington  at  F.  He  may  have  been  here  long  before  this  date,  but  this  appears  to  be  the  first  record 
in  his  name.  He  shared  in  all  the  land  dividends  in  the  township.  Savage  has  fallen  into  an  error, 
when  he  supposes  "  that  he  died  or  was  killed  by  the  Indians  while  underr  Capt.  Turner  in 
the  Fall's  Fight  &  victory,  19  May  1667."  The  fact  is,  he  survived  &  sold  his  home-lot  at  F. 
i.  Nov.  1675  to  Daniel  Frost  2.,  and  removed  from  F.  to  Greenwich.  The  point  of  land 
extending  out  into  Long  Island  Sound,  on  the  east  side  of  Byram  River,  was  named  after  the  said 

Thomas      Conn.   Col.   Rec.    Vol.    1678-1689,  pp.  331  &  337. His  will  is  dated  6  Dec.  1689. 

He  was  a  large  land  holder  both  in  Fairfield  &  in  Greenwich.  In  his  will  he  mentions  wife 
Mary,  s.  John  to  whom  he  gave  a  double  portion  of  his  estate,  the  mill  at  Rye  &  several  acres 
of  land  at  White  Plains  ;  to  s.  Thomas  he  gave  his  home-lot  lying  upon  Byram  river,  other 
lands  &  his  weaver's  loom  ;  to  s.  Samuel  several  pieces  of  land  at  Greenwich  ;  to  s.  Joseph  his 
dwelling-house,  barn  &  home-lot  &  the  northward  part  of  the  orchard  &  a  pasture  lot,  on  the  east- 
ward side  of  a  highway  that  goes  into  the  neck.  He  gave  to  his  four  sons  his  rights  &  privi- 
leges in  all  divided  &  undivided  lands  in  Greenwich,  Rye  and  Fairfield.  To  his  five  daughters 
viz.:  Mary,  Abigail,  Elizabeth,  Deborah,  &  Sarah,  he  gave  portions  in  money.  Pie  also  mentioned 
his  grand-son  Thomas,  s.  of  John.  He  appointed  his  wife  Mary  executrix  &  ss  :  John  &  Samuel 
Lyon  as  executors  of  his  estate.  Probably  his  ss  Samuel  &  John  settled  on  his  lands  at  Fairfield 
&  Greenfield. 

JOHN,   probably   s.  of    Richard  Lyon    I.    m.    Hannah d.    of  Their   children    were 

Thankfull,  Elizabeth,  Hannah  &  John,  all  bapt.  15.  Aug  1726  ;  Hester  bapt.  2.  Feb  I7267-;  — 
Lyon  bapt  16.  April  1729  ;  Griswould  bapt.  30.  May  1731. 

HENRY  s.  of  Richard  Lyon  i.,  Savage  says,  was  at  Milford  in  1645.  He  was  granted  a  home- 
lot  at  F.  4.  May  1652.  s.  w.  of  Seeley's  Neck.  On  the  4  Feb.  16^5  he  purchased  of  William  Bate- 
man  his  home-lot,  dwelling-house  &c.,  lying  on  the  n.  e.  side  of  the  Newton  Square.  He  m.  a  d. 
of  William  Bateman,  &  from  his  father-in-law  received  one  half  of  his  estate.  He  was  brother  in 
law  to  Joseph  Middlebrook,  who  also  m.  a  d.  of  William  Bateman,  &  also  of  Thomas  Bateman  of 
Concord,  Mass.,  only  son  mentioned  in  William  Bateman's  will. 


GENEALOGIES  395 

JOSEPH,  John,  Benjamin  &  SamueJ  Lyon  jr.  were  among  the  first  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  1726  at  Greenfield. 

The  descendants  of  the  Lyon  family  are  so  numerous,  that  it  is  very  difficult  to  determine  any 
direct  line  of  descent  after  the  second  generation  ;  but  much  of  interest  &  value  is  to  be  found  in 
the  Town.  Probate  &  Parish  Records. 

MIDDLEBROOK 

JOSEPH  MIDDLEBROOK  i.  came  from  Concord  with  the  Rev.  John  Jones  in  1644,  &  settled  at 
Pequonnock,  where  he  was  granted  a  home-lot  from  the  town  of  2i  acres,  bounded  n.  w.  by  the 
home-lot  of  James  Evarts  ;  n.  e.  Benjamin  Turney's  £  George  Starkey's,  s.  e.  Peter  Johnson's,  £ 
s.  w.  by  the  highway.  He  m.  at  Concord  a  d.  of  William  Bateman  of  that  place,  &  after  her  death, 
Mary  widow  of  Benjamin  Turney  of  Pequonnock.  He  died  about  1686,  in  which  year  his  will 
was  probated  on  the  22  Nov.,  leavings.  Joseph  &  d.  Phebe,  w.  of  Samuel  Wilson,  his  only  heirs. 
He  was  one  of  the  land  dividend  holders  of  F.,  &  left  a  good  estate. 

JOSEPH  2.  s.  of  Joseph  i.  Middlebrook  I.  m.  Sarah  d.  of Their  children  were  Sarah  b. 

12.  Nov  1675  ;  Hannah  25.  June  1677  I  John  25.  Oct  1678;  Joseph  15.  April  1680;  £  Jonathan. 
F.  T.  Rec. 

JOHN  i.  son  of  Joseph  Middlebrook  2.,  m.  Mary  d.  of Their  children  were  Robert  bapt. 

16.  May  1703;  John  10.  Dec  1704;  Elizabeth  i.  June  1708;  John  i.  Oct  1710;  Mary  8.  Feb 
1712' 3;  David  5.  June  1715  ;  Stephen  2.  Feb  ijij1*;  Anne  2.  Nov  1718  ;  Ephraim  28.  Aug  1720. 
F.  Par.  Rec. 

JONATHAN  son  of  Joseph  Middltbrook  2.,  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  —  -  &  settled  at  Greenfield. 
Their  children  were  Michael  bapt.  23.  Nov.  1712  ;  Jonathan  9.  May  1714  ;  Martha  3,  March 
I7i6'-z;  Martha  again  n.  Jan  I7i819;  Ebenezer  16.  Oct.  1720  ;  Nathan  26.  May  1723  ;  Sarah  7. 
March  1724^.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

JOSEPH  3.  s.  of  Joseph  Middlebrook,  2.  m.  Deborah  d.  of ,  who  was  not  bapt.  until  loDec 

1704,  at  F.  The  above  Joseph  Middlebrook's  name  occurs  in  1726  among  the  members  of  the  G. 
H.  Par.  Their  children  were  David  bapt.  10.  Dec  1704;  Eunice  23.  June  1706  ;  Anne  n.  April 
1708;  Sarah  8.  Feb  1712' :i;  Dorothy  6.  Nov  1715;  Dorothy  again  17.  Nov  1717  ;  Joseph  6. 
March  1719*";  Jane  6.  Oct  1723. 

JOSEPH  4.  s.  of  Joseph  Middlebrook  3.  b.  3.  March  I7I92Q,  m.  Sarah  d.  of  David  Williams  of 
Greenfield  17.  Dec  1741.  Their  children  were  Rhocla  b.  16.  April  1743  ;  Eleanor  26.  Sept  1744  ; 
Sarah  30.  Aug  1/47  ;  Deborah  Oct,  1749;  Submit,  bapt.  in  1754;  Eunice  b.  16.  March  1757. 

Some  of  the  Middlebrook  family  settled  at  Long  Hill  or  Trumbull,  Ct.  &  were  prominent  as 
good  soldiers  in  the  Revolution.  Dr.  Middlebrook's  well  known  Almanac  was  for  many  years 
found  in  most  every  household  in  the  county  of  Fairfield,  £  had  a  large  circulation  throughout  the 
country. 

MOREHOUSE 

THOMAS  MOREHOUSE  I.  was  at  Weathersfield,  says  Savage,  in  1640.  He  was  among  the  first 
to  receive  a  grant  of  seven  acres  in  Stamford.  He  is  found  at  Fairfield  before  1053,  where  he  had 
purchased  the  house  &  home-lot  of  John  Barlow  on  the  Ludlow  Square.  He  was  granted  land  by  the 
town  on  the  west  side  of  the  Uncoway  River  &  present  Black  Rock  Bridge,  where  he  ran  a  grist- 
mill on  the  creek,  which  empties  into  the  river  between  Seely's  Neck  &  the  Old  Mill  hill.  He  m. 
Isabella  d.  of  Ralph  Keeler  of  Norwalk.  His  will  is  dated  S.  Aug  1658.  in  which  he  leaves  :',  of 
his  estate  to  his  wife  Isabell  ;  a  double  portion  to  his  eldest  s.  Samuel,  homestead,  mill  &  mill-lot, 
which  he  was  not  to  sell  without  the  consent  of  the  town  ;  &  further  distributes  his  estate  among 
his  sons  Thomas,  John,  Jonathan  &  ds.  Mary  &  Ann.  He  mentions  d.  Hannah,  to  whom  he  had 
already  given  a  full  portion. 

LIEUT.  SAMUEL  i.   s.  of  Thomas  Morehouse   i.,  in.    Rebecca  d.   of  William  Odell  i.     Their 


396  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

children  were  Samuel,  Jonathan,  Thomas  &  John,  &  probably  others.  lie  was  Marshal  of  F.  in 
1673.  &  held  offices  of  trust  &  usefulness.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  was  recorded  in  1733. 

Rebt-cca  in.  Richard  Ilubbell  2.  5.  Nov.  1685.  Thomas  m.  Mary  d.  of ,  whom  he  made 

his  sole  heir,  <!v  died  about  1690. 

JOHNS,  of  Thomas  Morehouse  i.  was  at  Southampton  L.  I.  in  1684. 

THOMAS  2.  s.  of  Thomas  Morehouse  I,  m.  Mary  d.  of  Thomas  Sherwood.  Their  children 
were  Thomas,  John,  Daniel,  James,  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  Susannah,  Mary  &  Ann.  The  inventory 
of  his  estate  was  recorded  in  1708. 

JONATHAN  s.  of  Thomas  Morehouse  I.  pur.  of  his  brother  Samuel  their  father's  dwelling 
house,  near  the  creek  under  the  hill.  He  m.  Mary  d.  of  Edward  Wilson  of  F.  Their  children 
were  Jonathan  b.  i.  Jan  1677  ;  Martha  2.  Nov.  1679  ;  &  probably  others.  He  m.  again  16.  April 
1690  Rebecca  d  of  John  Knowles.  Their  children  were  John  &  Hannah  bapt.  7.  Oct.  1694 ; 
Joshua  S.  March  1695-  ;  Elizabeth  9.  May  1702  ;  Stephen,  Gershom  &  Ruth,  all  bapt.  21.  May 
1704  ;  Elizabeth  31.  March  1706  ;  Elizabeth  again  16.  May  1708  ;  James  19.  March  1709---  ; 
Abijah,  27.  April  1712;  Ephraim  28.  Aug.  1716;  Anne  2.  Nov  1718  ;  James  n.  Nov.  1722.  F. 
Par.  Rec. 

SF.RGT.  DANIEL  i.  s.  of  Thomas  Morehouse  2  m.  d.  of Their  children  were 

Abraham  bapt  22.  Dec.  1700  ;  Hannah  24.  Sept.  1704  ;  Daniel  29.  Dec.  1706^  ;  Samuel  29.  May 
1709  ;  Rebecca  24.  Feb.  1711'-^-  ;  Catherine  29.  Aug.  1714.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

THOMAS  MOREHOUSK  jr.  m.  Martha  d.  of  -  —  who  was  not  bapt.  until  n.  Nov  1696. 
Their  children  were  Rebecca  &  Mary  bapt.  12.  June  1698  ;  John  5.  Jan  1701  ;  Sarah  6.  Feb 
1703^  ;  Jethro  3.  Feb  1705-  ;  Thomas  16.  May  1708  ;  Thankful  23.  July  1710  ;  Stephen  ro.  Aug. 
1712  ;  Thomas  again  4.  Sept.  1715.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

THE  NASH  FAMILY. 

The  patronymic  of  the  name  Nash  is  of  Saxon  origin.  In  olden  times,  it  was  the  custom  to 
prefix  the  residence  of  any  particular  family,  by  the  word  Atte  (at  the)  ;  thus,  atte-oak,  atte-ash, 
atte-well,  atte-wood.  In  the  course  of  time  a  consonant  was  introduced  for  the  sake  of  euphony, 
hence  the  name  atte-n-ash,  atte-n-oak,  atte-n-well,  atte-n-wood.  Still  later,  in  order  to  abbreviate 
&  facilitate  pronunciation,  the  atte  was  dropped,  hence  arose  the  simple  names  of  Naish,  Nash, 
Noak,  Nokes,  Atwood,  Atwell,  &c. 

Thomas  Nash,  the  great  grandfather  of  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  of  F.,  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  Thomas  Nash,  who,  among  the  emigrants  of  Rev.  John  Davenport's  company,  landed  at  Bos- 
ton, from  the  ship  Hector,  on  the  26  July  1637.  It  is  possible  that  he  was  among  the  later  emi- 
grants of  the  Plymouth  company,  for.  in  a  letter  signed  by  five  of  the  Rev.  John  Robinson's 
congregation,  who  remained  behind  at  Leyden,  Holland,  &  addressed  to  their  dear  brethren  in  the 
Lord  at  Plymouth,  New  England,  dated  30.  Nov  1628,  is  to  be  found  the  name  Thomas  Nash. 
He  may  have  paid  a  visit  to  Holland,  &  returned  with  Davenport's  company  ;  or,  he  may  have  been 
among  those  who  joined  the  New  Haven  company  from  the  Plymouth  Colony,  during  their  sojourn 
in  Massachusetts.*  He  was  accompanied  to  New  England  by  his  wife  Margery,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Baker  (eldest  son  of  John  Raker)  &  Mary  Hodgetts  ("  who  married  Thomas  Nash  &  went 
to  New  England  '')f  &  five  children  viz  :  Mary,  John,  Sarah,  Joseph,  &  Timothy  born  1626. 

Among  the  list  of  subscribers  to  the  fundamental  agreement  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  June 
4,  1639,  is  that  of  Thomas  Nash.  Four  days  after  the  signing  of  this  agreement,  another  company 
with  their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitfield,  joined  the  New  Haven  or  Quinipiac  planters  from  Kent 
&  Surrey,  England.  These,  with  some  of  the  first  comers  of  New  Haven,  formed  a  company  to 
begin  a  plantation  at  Guilford.  Barber  states  "that  the  planters  of  Guilford  had  not  one  Black- 

*  Mass.  His.  Collections  Vol  i.  fi  Scries,  1852. 

1  County  Genealogies  &  Pedigrees  of  the  Hertfordshire  Families,  by  William  Berry. 


GENEALOGIES  397 

smith  among  them;  "&  that  it  was  "  with  great  cost  that  the  town  obtained  one  to  live  among  them." 
Thomas  Nash  was  invited  to  join  the  Guilford  party,  but  his  services  being  required  by  the  New 
Haven  planters,  they  interfered  &  prevented  his  going.  In  1651  he  was  given  the  charge  of  all 
the  town  muskets  of  New  Haven.  The  tradition  in  the  family  is,  that  Thomas  Nash  was  from 
Lancashire,  England.  He  appears  to  have  been  well  advanced  in  years  upon  his  arrival  in  Amer- 
ica. In  his  will,  dated  1659  he  specially  mentions  his  old  age.  He  was  called  Brother  Na*h  in  the 
Church  Records.  His  home  lot  was  the  second  on  the  west  side  of  State,  from  the  corner  of 
Chapel  St. 

Thomas  Nash  died  12.  May  1658.     Margery  his  wife  died,  within  two  years  after  his  death. 

Sergt  Joseph  Nash,  the  second  son  of  Thomas  Nash  of  New  Haven,  was  born  in  England  & 
followed  his  father's  trade  of  gun  &  blacksmith.  He  was  made  a  freeman  7.  March  1657,  A:  moved 
to  Hartford  soon  after,  where  he  was  made  a  freeman  of  Conn.  20.  May  1658  ;  &  held  the  high  office 
of  a  constable  in  1660.  He  was  twice  married,  but  the  maiden  names  of  his  wives  arc  not  known. 
Their  Christian  names  were  Mary  &  Margaret.  But  little  is  known  of  his  family  history.  His 
estate,  which  he  bequeathed  to  his  wife  Margaret,  &  to  their  only  daughter  Sarah,  amounted  to 
^420,  sS.  lod.  The  names  of  some  of  his  children  are  found  in  New  Haven  as  follows  : 

John  b.  12.  July  1650. 
Hannah  b.  21.  Jan.  1652. 
Mary,  his  wife,  died  25.  Nov.  1654. 
—  daughter  died  18.  Jan.  1654. 

Sarah  b.  at  Hartford,  but  not  recorded,  is  supposed  to  have  m.  Noah  Cook,  of  Northampton, 
Mass.  He  probably  had  other  children  of  which  no  trace  has  been  found. 

Sergt.  John,  believed  to  be  a  son  of  the  above  Joseph  Nash,  is  recorded  as  living  at  I>rand- 
ford  Ct.  in  1677.  He  married  22.  Aug.  1677,  Elizabeth  widow  of  Antony  Howd,  &  by  her  had 
the  following  children, 

Joseph  b.  I  Aug.  1678 d.  unmarried  in  F. 

Thomas  b.  28  Jan  1680 settled  in  F. 

Elizabeth  b.  15.  April  i6Si  m.  Stephen  Foot. 

Elizabeth  Nash,  by  her  first  husband  Antony  Howd  had  John  b.  1673  ;  Antony  b.  1674  & 
Benoni  b.  1676. 

John  Nash  died  1682,  leaving  an  estate  of  ,£132.  gs.  gd.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  gives 
the  impression  that  he  was  a  shoemaker. 

CAPT  THOMAS  NASR-  (I),  son  of  the  above  John  Nash  settled  while  a  young  man  at  Maxumus 
or  Green's  Farms.  On  the  iSth  Nov.  1701,  the  town  of  F.  granted  him,  "  an  acre  &  a  half  of 
land,  to  be  laid  out  between  Clapboard  Hill  &  ye  Country  Road,  near  yc  run  called  ye  Hot-hole 
run,  which  grant  is  on  condition  yl  he  live  &  died  in  possession  of  it,  &  carry  on  ye  trade  of  a  Smith 
at  Maxumus  farms."  He  was  made  Captain  of  the  militia,  &  was  a  man  of  influence  in  the  civil 
&  political  affairs  of  the  town. 

As  early  as  the  15.  of  March  1710,  Thomas  Nash  gave  a  lot  "  four  rod  square,  for  a  hou^e  to 
meet  in,  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  forever."  He  was  the  first  deacon  of  that  church,  which 
office  he  held  through  life,  &  also  his  son  &  grand-son,  who  bore  the  name  of  Thomas.  He  d.  8. 
June  1748,  in  the  69  year  of  his  age.  His  last  will  was  dated  16.  June  1741.  His  estate  was 
valued  at  .£10,953  8s-  6d.  Sarah  his  wife  died  20  Feb  1760. 

Their  children  were, 

Joseph  bap.  4,  Jan.  1712-13,  born  probably  in  1706,  died  young. 

Thomas  born  3.  Aug.  1708,  settled  at  Green's  Farms. 

Sarah  born  20.  March  1712.  m.  John  Griffin. 

Jonathan  born  17.  Oct.  1714,  settled  at  Green's  Farms. 

Elizabeth  born  3.  March  1717,  m.  John  Burr. 


398  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

CAPT.  THOMAS  NASH,  (2>  son  of  the  above  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  W  m.  28.  Sep.  1731,  Rebecca 
daughter  of  —  —  Hull  of  F.  He  lived  at  Port  Royal,  so  named  from  a  spring  of  running  water, 
resorted  to  by  those  who  lived  near  it,  for  its  softness,  sweetness  &  purity.  It  is  situated  on  the 
left  of  the  turnpike,  north-west  of  Turkey-hill.  He  afterwards  occupied  the  homestead  of  his 
father.  He  held  the  lifelong  office  of  deacon  in  the  Green's  Farms'  church,  &  was  a  highly 
respected  &  esteemed  citizen  of  F. 

Capt.  Thomas  Nash  (->  d.  2.  Aug.  1769. 

Rebecca,  his  wife  d.  22.  April  1791. 

Their   children 

Rebecca  b.  18.  Nov.  1732 — m.  Simon  son  of  —  —  Couch. 

Elizabeth  b.  23.  Aug.  1/34,  m.  (i)  Reuben  Bradley  (2)  John  Hubbell. 

Eunice  b.  27.  March,  1737,  m.  (i)  Benjamin 

Davis,  (2)  John  Morehouse. 

Lydia  b.  26  March  1740,  m.  William  Hawley. 

Thomas  b.  21  May  1743,  settled  in  the  homestead. 

Mary  bap.  II  Dec.  1747,  died  25.  Dec  1747. 

CAPT  THOMAS  NASH  (3\  son  of  the  above  Thomas,  first  married  Mary,  daughter  of  William 
Burr  Esqr  of  F.,  &  second  Mary  Nichols.  The  last  wife  was  the  mother  of  Dr.  William  B.  Nash 
of  Bridgeport,  Ct. 

Children  of  Sarah,  daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  (I)  &  John  Griffin  of  Reading,  Ct. 

Sarah,  bap.  9  May,  1736,  m.  John  Burr,  jr.  22.    Nov.  1755. 

Eunice  bap.  22.  Oct.  1738,  m.  Jonathan  Couch,   14.  Aug.  1/59. 

John  —    — —  m.  Catharine  Johnson,  settled  in  Reading. 

Joseph m.  Esther  Hall,  settled  in  Reading. 

Jonathan,  bap.  23.  Nov.  1746,  settled  in  Danbury. 

Elizabeth  —  —  m.  Jeremiah  Sherman. 

Hepzibah in.  Joseph  Sanford,  2.  Nov.  1762. 

JONATHAN,  son  of  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  (l).  married  Sarah,  daughter  of Andrews  of  Maxu- 

mus  14.  March  1754. 

Their  children, 

Sarah  born  17.  Jan.  1755,  m.  Thomas  Couch. 

Elizabeth  bap.  3.  Oct.  1756,  died  I  March,  1775.  in  her  ig1.1?  year. 

Eleanor  born  14  Jan.  1758,  m.  Simon  Couch,  a  brother  of  the  above  Thomas. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Nash  died  9  Oct.  1757. 

Sarah  Andrews  Nash,  his  widow,  afterwards  married  Lieut.  Nathan  Godfrey,  of  Green's 
Farms  24.  Jan.  1764  ;  by  whom  she  had  Roda,  Jonathan,  Esther,  Ebenezer  &  Andrews. 

ELIZABETH  daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Nash  o,  was  married  14.  Oct.  1735  to  John  Burr,  son  of 
Daniel  Burr  of  F.  She  died  29  March  1740. 

Her  children 

Daniel,  b.  5.  March   1737. 
John,  b.  9.  Oct.  1739 

Her  husband  John  Burr,  then  married  Grace  daughter  of  Peter  Bulkley,  &  by  her  had  Talcott, 
John,  Grace,  Eunice,  &  Elizabeth.  Taken  from  The  Nash  Family,  by  Rev.  Sylvester  Nash. 

NICHOLS 

FRANCIS  NICHOLS  i.  was  an  early  settler  at  Stratford,  where  he  died  in  1650,  &  was  father  of 
Isaac,  Caleb  &  John,  all  born  in  England. 

ISAAC  i.  s.  of  Francis  T.  of  Stratford,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  town  in  1639.  He 
was  probably  the  Sergt.  appointed  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn,  to  train  the  militia  of  Stratford  & 


GENEALOGIES  399 

Pequonnock  in  1636.     (Col.  Rec.  Conn.  I.  36.)    He  m.  Margaret  d.  of Their  children  were 

Sarah  b.  I.  Nov.  1649  ;  Josiah  29.  Jan  1652,  who  died  in  1691,  leaving  widow,  but  no  children  ; 
Isaac  12.  March  1654  ;  Jonathan  20.  Dec.  1655  ;  Ephraim  16.  Dec.  1657  ;•  Patience  2.  Feb.  1660  ; 
Temperance  17.  May  1662  ;  Margery  30.  Nov.  1663  ;  Benjamin  2.  Feb.  1666;  &  Elizabeth  2. 
April  1668.  His  trade  was  that  of  a  soap  boiler.  He  died  in  1694.  In  his  will  of  23.  Sept.  1694, 
he  mentions  w.  Margaret ;  his  four  sons,  Josiah,  Isaac,  Jonathan  &  Ephraim  were  dead,  but  he 
gives  a  small  legacy  to  each  of  the  children  of  the  last  three  ".  his  sons  having  previously  had 
their  portions.  His  d.  Mary  m.  8.  Jan  1667,  the  Rev.  Israel  Chauncy  of  Stratford  ;  d.  Sarah  m.  S. 
Jan.  1674,  Stephen  Burritt  ;  &  d.  Elizabeth  m.  in  1691,  the  Rev.  Joseph  \Vebb  of  F. — Savage's 
Gen.  Die. 

CALEB  s.  of  Francis  Nichols  I.,  was  made  a  freeman  in  1669,  &  probably  m.  Ann  d.  of  Andrew 
Ward.  Their  children  were  Sarah  b.  i.  Dec.  1651;  Ann  5.  March  1653;  Esther  18.  Feb.  1655;  Joseph 
25.  Dec.  1656  ;  Samuel  29.  March  1658  ;  Andrew  28.  Nov.  1659  ;  Abraham  19.  Jan  1672  :  Abi- 
gail Feb  1664  ;  Hannah  Aug.  1667  ;  Caleb  in  1669;  Phebe  12.  Nov.  1671  ;  &  John  Nov.  1676. 
He  removed  to  Woodbury  &  died  there  in  1690.  In  his  will  6.  of  Aug.  1690,  he  mentions  children 
Samuel,  John,  Caleb  &  Abraham  ;  &  ds.  Mary,  Ann,  Phebe  ;  &  Moses  Wheeler  who  had  m.  20. 

Oct.  1674,  his  d.  Sarah  ;  John  Prentiss  whom,  d ;  &  William  Martin  whom.  d.  Abigail.     Mary 

m.  Hull  ;  Phebe  m.  probably  a  s.  of  Nicholas  Knell. — Savage's  Gen.  Die. 

JOHN  i  s.  of  Francis  Nichols  I.,  was,  says  Bond,  a  land-holder  at  Watertown  in  1636  or  7.  & 
was  probably  the  same,  who  was  an  early  settler  of  Fairfield,  &  who  was  granted  a  home-lot  from 
the  town  z\  acres  of  land,  on  the  s.  e.  side  of  the  Frost  Square,  lying  between  Richard  Wescott's  & 
Daniel  Frost's  home-lots.  He  was  a  dividend  land-holder,  &  stood  among  the  leading  citizens  of 
F.  He  died  intestate,  &  his  widow  Grace  soon  after  in.  Richard  Perry  of  F.  On  the  IS.  May 
1649,  she  gave  up  her  interest  in  the  homestead  to  her  s.  John  Nichols  at  his  request  ;  to  her 
children  Samuel,  John  &  Sarah  Nichols  she  gave  6£.  each,  &  5j£.  more  to  her  s.  Samuel.  She 
appointed  her  brother  Isaac  Nichols  of  Stratford,  &  Andrew  Ward  of  F.  administrators  in  her  place, 
on  her  first  husband's  estate.  (A.  Town  Deeds.)  A  distribution  of  John  Nichols  estate  was  made 
by  his  brother  Isaac,  &  Andrew  Ward  9.  June  1655,  in  which  six  children  were  named  viz  :  Hes- 
ter, Elizabeth,  Hannah,  Isaac,  Sarah  &  John.  In  this  distribution  Samuel  is  not  named.  F.  Prob. 
Rec. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Nichols  I.  of  F.,  joined  the  army  in  King  Philip's  war,  and  died  the  first 
year  unmarried.  Savage's  Gen.  Die. 

"  ISAAC  i.  s.  of  John  Nichols  I.  of  F.  was  brought  up  by  his  Uncle  Isaac  of  Stratford,  where 
he  also  settled,  £  m.  15.  Aug.  1672.  Esther  Clark.  Their  children  were  Grace  b.  6.  June  1673  ; 
Alice  25.  Oct.  1674  ;  John  10.  Oct.  1676  ;  Samuel  6.  Dec.  1678,  &  he  perhaps  removed  to  Derby. 
Savage's  Gen  Die." 

ENSIGN  EPHRAIM,  s.  of  Isaac  Nichols  i.  of  Stratford,  &  grandson  of  Francis  I.  in.  Sept 
1682,  Esther,  first  wid.  of  Dr.  William  Ward  &  second  wid.  of  Ebenezer  Hawley.  Their  children 
were  Ignatius  b.  17.  Dec.  1683;  Disborow  i.  Jan.  1685  ;  &  Esther  18.  Dec.  1689  &  probably 
others.  F.  T.  Rec. 

JOHN  NICHOLS  s.  of  m.  d.  of—          Their  children  were  John  Nichols  bapt.  31. 

March  1695;  Ebenezer  16.  June  1695  ;  Samuel  21.  March  iCgG-1;  Solomon  23.  April  1699; 
Joseph  10.  Sept.  1704  ;  Benjamin  &  Margery  12.  Aug.  1711.  F.  Par.  Rec.  From  this  family  the 
Nicholses  of  Fairfield  &  Greenfield  appear  to  have  descended,  as  well  as  from  the  sons  of  Ephraim 
Nichols. 

ODELL 

WILLIAM  ODELL  was  at  Concord  in  1639.  &  was  perhaps  from  the  Parish  of  Odell  in  England, 
from  which  the  Rev.  Peter  Bulkley  came.  His  s.  James  was  b.  in  1640  at  Concord,  &  died  the 
next  year;  also  d.  Rebecca  b.  17.  July  1642.  Savage  says  he  removed  from  Concord  to  South- 


400  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

ampton  L.  I.  in  1642  &  soon  after  settled  at  Pequonnock,  where  he  occupied  a  considerable  land 
at  Greenlea.  He  d.  in  1676;  the  same  year  June  6  his  will  is  dated,  in  which  he  gave  to  his 
s.  William,  who  had  settled  at  Greenwich,  his  horses,  cattle,  swine  &  sheep,  &  3  of  his  movable 
estate  ;  to  his  grand-son  Samuel  Morehouse,  s.  of  his  d.  Rebecca,  he  gave  all  his  land  near  Unco- 
way  River,  called  Rossiter's  field  ;  2  acres  in  the  great  meadow  before  the  town  ;  land  in  Concord 
field  called  "  poor  man's  lot  ;"  building-lot,  pasture-lot,  long-lot,  all  his  land  dividends  in  Compo, 
all  his  housing  &  half  of  his  home  lot  in  F.,  out  of  which  legacies  said  Samuel  Morehouse  was  to 
pay  to  his  brothers  Thomas  &  John  5^  each,  when  21  years  of  age.  To  grand-son  John  Odell,  all 
land  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  &  the  other  half  of  his  home  lot.  To  Jonathan  Morehouse  2 
sheep  ;  to  Goody  Knap  4  yards  red  cloth  :  to  daughter  in  law  Mary  Odell,  his  wife's  red  broadcloth 
cloak.  All  other  remaining  estate  he  gave  to  his  s  John  Odell,  and  to  his  daughter  Rebecca  More- 
house.  He  made  his  son  in  law  Samuel  Morehouse,  &  John  Odell  his  executors. 

JOHN  s.  of  William  Odell  I.,  lived  at  Greenlea.  where  in  1678  he  recorded  a  large  amount  of 
land,  of  which  he  had  had  quiet  possession  eight  years.  He  m.  Joanna  d.  of  Joseph  Walker  dec.  of 
Stratford,  &  step-daughter  of  Richard  Hubbell  i.  Their  children  were  Samuel  b.  10.  March  1677; 
Hannah  20,  Oct  1679  ;  Deborah  28,  Aug  1682.  (F.  T.  Ree)  ;  &  perhaps  others. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Odell  i.  m d.  of  Their  children  were  Anne  b.  6.  March  i688&i'; 

John  5,  Nov.  1690  ;  Bethiah  27.  Feb  1692  ;  Sarah  10,  Aug  1694. 

Abel  Bingham  the  school  teacher  of  Fairfield  Village,  m.  Elizabeth  Odell  16.  May  1694. 
(probably  the  d.  of  W'.1:  Odell.)  Their  children  were  Abigail  b.  7.  June  1696.  &  perhaps  others. 


OGDEN 

John  &  Richard  Ogden  were  early  emigrants  to  Conn.  .  John  the  elder  brother,  settled  at 
Stamford  as  early  as  1641  ;  &  the  next  year  made  an  agreement  with  Gov.  Keift  of  New  York  to 
build  a  stone  church  for  2500  guilders  ;  was  a  patentee  of  Hempstead  L.  I.  in  1644  ;  &  lived  in 
Southampton  L.  I.  in  1656  ;  was  an  assistant  in  1656,  60,  &  62  ;  &  was  named  in  the  L.  I.  Charter 
of  King  Charles  II.  in  1662.  He  removed  soon  after  to  New  Jersey,  &  with  Gov.  Carteret  made 
large  land  purchases,  &  represented  Elizabethtown  in  the  first  assembly  of  N.  J.  Savage's  Gen. 
Die. 

Richard  Ogden,  a  brother  of  the  above  John,  settled  at  Stamford,  &  was  a  partner  with  John 
in  building  the  stone  church  for  Gov.  Keift  at  New  York.  He  removed  to  F.  between  1650  & 
1660  ;  &  in  1662  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  town  to  run  the  new  mill,  which  had  been  erected 
by  Thomas  Sherwood  2.  at  the  town's  expense  on  Mill  River  at  Mill  Plain,  now  known  as  Perry's 
Mill.  He  erected  a  stone  house  near  the  mill.  On  the  20.  Dec.  1680,  the  town  sold  the  mill  & 
mill-dam,  ponds  &  streams  to  him  &  to  his  heirs,  provided  "he  maintained  a  good  corn  mill"  to 
grind  all  kinds  of  grain  "  reasonably  well  &  sufficiently  "  into  good  meal,  for  which  he  was  to 
receive  j1,;  of  the  grist,  8[;  acres  were  granted  him  on  the  east  of  the  mill  dam,  &  3  acres  on  the 
north  side,  several  acres  of  meadow  &  upland  on  the  n.  w.  adjoining  ;  the  town  reserving  ''a  right 
of  cart- way  &  a  cart  bridge  across  sd.  pond  &  stream  in  the  high-way  near  the  mill."  lie  died 
intestate,  &  his  widow  soon  followed  him.  His  estate  was  valued  at  ^805,  10?  6'1 .  The  town  in 
order  to  protect  the  minor  heirs  t\;  to  continue  the  mill,  made  the  following  settlement  with  the 
heirs  on  the  31.  Oct  1690.  The  mill-house,  stream,  ponds,  dams  &  lands  which  Richard  Ogden 
had  deeded  to  his  son  Richard  before  he  died  were  confirmed  to  him  with  'j  of  his  fathers  Per- 
petual Common.  John,  a  minor,  who  had  chosen  Samuel  Ward  as  his  guardian,  was  set  off  the 
stone  house  with  the  land  around  it,  '(  of  his  fathers  Perpetual  Common,  land  at  Sasqua  neck  & 
other  places,  &  $£  from  his  brother  Richard.  David,  the  second  son,  was  allowed  the  meadow  & 
upland  near  die  mill,  land  at  Mill  Hill,  L\:  all  of  his  father's  long-lot,  his  father's  two  divisions  at 
Compo.  iS;  -y  of  the  Perpetual  Common,  &  all  lands  &  housings  deeded  him  by  his  father,  provided 


GENEALOGIES  4OI 

he  paid  to  his  sisters  or  to  their  husbands,  all  remaining  legacies  left  unpaid,  &  the  daughters  50^. 
each. 

In  the  inventory  of  Mary,  widow  of  above  Richard  Ogden  I.,  dated  28  Aug.  1687  the  following 

children  were  mentioned,  ss  Richard,  David  &  John,  Alice,  w.  of  Sergt.  Samuel  Ward,  w.  of 

Daniel  Meeker,  & w.  of  John  Smith. 

RICHARD  2.  s.  of  Richard  Ogden  I.,  m.  d.  of—  Their  children  were  Joseph,  Rich- 
ard, Jonathan,  &  Sarah,  all  bapt.  27.  Jan  1694^;  Mary  19.  April  1696.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

I  find  no  David  Ogden  sooner  than  the  following  David  mentioned  in  the  G.  II.  Par.  Rec.  as 
a  member  of  that  church  in  1726.  His  children  are  found  in  the  F.  Par.  Rec.  &  are  as  follows, 
David  b.  23.  June  1727  ;  Abigail  22.  Feb  I72930;  Jonathan  21.  Sept.  1735. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Richard  Ogden  i.,  settled  at  Greenfield,  &  m.  Mary  Jennings  24.  Jan  1728^. 
Their  children  were,  x  Sarah  b.  5  Sept  1730;  Samuel  24.  Oct  1732;  John  24.  April  1735  ;  Ehe- 
nezer  23.  April  1737  ;  Sarah  24.  May  1739  ;  Hezekiah  5.  March  1744. 

EDMOND  OGDEN  s.  of  -  -  b.  28.  June  1707;  m.  Mary  Gilburd  20.  Jan.  1728'.  Their 
children  were  x  Joseph  b.  25.  Dec.  1730;  x  Obediah  4.  Nov.  1732  ;  Eunice  28.  Aug.  1734;  Anne 
10.  Nov  1736;  Jesse  2.  July  1738;  Moses  23.  July  1740;  Bethuel  21.  April  174^.  G.  H.  Par. 
Rec. 

OSBORN 

RICHARD  OSBORN  sailed  from  London  in  the  ship  Hopewell,  Capt.  Thomas  Wood  master, 
bound  for  Barbadoes  17.  Feb.  1634.  (Hotton's  Emigrants.)  In  1635,  Richard  Osborn  was  one  of 
the  company  that  met  with  the  Rev.  Peter  Hobart,  &  drew  for  a  home-lot  in  the  settlement  of 
Hingham,  Mass.  He  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  Pequot  War.  His  name  occurs  among  the  free 
planters  of  New  Haven  in  1639,  in  which  he  signed  the  fundamental  agreement,  at  the  gathering 
of  the  church  on  the  4'.^  of  March  ;  shared  in  the  divisions  of  land  in  1643  ;  &  took  the  oath  of 
fidelity  before  Governor  Eaton  i.  July  1644.  His  pew  in  the  church  was  No  4,  "  in  the  other 
side  of  the  door."  N.  H.  Col.  Rec.  He  is  prob.  the  same  Richard  Osborn  who  removed  to  F. 
between  1650  &  1653,  &  purchased  of  Thomas  Pell  a  house  &  home-lot  lying,  between  John  Cable's 
&  Thomas  Shervington's.  He  purchased  other  places,  &  finally  a  house  and  home-lot  adjoining 
that  of  Cornelius  Hull's.  He  became  one  of  the  dividend  land  holders  of  the  town.  "  For  his 
good  services  in  the  Pequot  War,"  the  Gen  Ct.  of  Conn,  granted  him  80  acres  of  land,  to  be  taken 
up  in  F.,  where  it  did  not  interfere  with  other  grants,  which  were  set  off  to  his  heirs  in  1707,  by 
Capt.  Nathan  Gold  &  Judge  Peter  Burr.  He  removed  to  Westchester,  &  on  the  17.  of  Nov.  1682, 
he  deeded  to  his  son  John  Osborn  &  to  his  heirs,  all  his  housing  &  home-lots,  orchards,  wood  & 
timber  in  the  town  of  F.,  together  with  all  his  uplands  &  meadows,  his  privilege  in  the  undivided 
commons,  &  all  his  right  &  title  to  lands  in  the  Colony  of  Conn., 'provided  he  paid  all  his  debts  & 
dues  in  F.,  &  the  following  sums  of  money  to  his  other  heirs,  viz  :  to  the  five  children  of  his  eldest 

d.  2OS  each,  when  of  age  ;  to  his  d.  Priscilla's  (w.  of  Cornelius  Seeley)  two  sons  .|OS,  each,  & 

20s,  to  each  of  her  two  daughters,  when  of  age  ;  to  his  d.  Sarah's  seven  children  20":  each,  when 
of  age  ;  to  his  d.  Mary's  (w.  of  Thomas  Bedient)  three  children  40*  each,  when  of  age;  to  his  d. 
Elizabeth  S°£-  (who  perhaps  m.  James  Beers.)  [A.  Town  Deeds  p.  449.]  Besides  the  s.  John 
mentioned  in  this  will,  he  also  had  a  s.  David.  He  was  in  Newtown,  L.  I.  where  he  is  said  to 
have  died,  well  advanced  in  years.  John  s.  of  Nathaniel  Baldwin,  m.  Hannah  d.  of  Richard 
Obborn,  19.  Nov  1663,  &  she  may  have  been  the  unnamed  daughter. 

CAPT.  JOHN  I.  s.  of  Capt.  Richard  Osborn  I  ;  was  an  important  &  influential  man  in  F.  He 
m.  Sarah  d.  of  James  Bennet.  Their  children  were  Hannah  b.  26.  July  1677;  Samuel,  John. 
David,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  &  perhaps  others.'  He  died  15.  July  1709.  F.  T.  Rec. 

DAVID  i.  s.  of  Capt.  Richard  Osborn  i.,  was  of  Dr.  Thomas  Pell's  company  from  F.,  which 
settled  at  Eastchester  in  1666.     He  m.   Abigail   d.  of   Philip  Pinkney  in  1679,  another  of  Pell's 
company    from  F.  .     Their  children  were  Sarah,  Richard  &   Abigail.     His  d.  Sarah  m.  Jonathan 
26 


4O2  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Sturges  2.  of  F.  31.  July  1692,  &  for  a  second  husband  Judge  Peter  Burr.  His  d.  Abigail  m. 
William  Hill  3.  of  F.  7.  Oct.  1691.  David  the  father  died  in  1679. 

RICHARD,  the  s.  of  David  Osborn  i.,  settled  at  Ridgefield,  Conn,  in  1713,  &  purchased  of 
Richard  Whiting,  one  twenty-ninth  part  of  that  town.  He  is  said  to  have  lived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  103  years.* 

SERGT.  SAMUEL  s.  of  Capt.  John  Osborn  i.,  m.  Abigail  d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Sam- 
uel &  Hannah  bapt.  2  Jan  1703'*-;  Abigail  27.  April  1709;  Anne  15.  July  1711  ;  Sarah  29.  Nov 
1713.  Samuel  the  father  died  in  1751. 

SERGT.  JOHN  2.   s.  of  Capt.  John   Osborn   i.,  m.   Abigail  d.  of  Their  children   were 

Abigail  bapt.  5.  March  I7O31;  John  7.  Oct.  1705  ;  Jonathan  21.  Dec  1707  ;   Mary  17.  Feb  ijni2-\ 
John  6.  Feb.  I7i4lf';  Mary  17.  Feb  I7I611  ;  Mary  again  20.  Aug  1721  ;   Howes  3.  Feb.  1722^^; 
Thankful  2.  May  1725  ;  Elizabeth  28.   May  1727  ;  Mary  &  Deborah  Silliman,  daughters  of  Capt. 
Osborn's  present  wife,  bapt.  2  Nov.  1729,   showing  that  his  second  wife  was  the  widow  of  - 
Silliman  ;  their  d.  Martha  was  bapt.  13.  Sept  1730.     Capt.  John,  the  father  died  in  1761. 

SERGT.  DAVID  2.  s.  of  Capt.  John  Osborn  i.,  m. d.  of  —          Their  children  were  David 

bapt.  8.  Feb.  1707";  William  22.  May  1709  ;  Sarah  June  1711  ;  John  S.  Nov.  1713  ;  Fliazer  (who 
settled  at  New  Fail-field  in  1739.)  29-  Jan-  I7r5! "~?  Dorothy  3.  Nov.  1717;  Hannah  5.  Feb  I72o31 ; 
Grace  10.  Jan  1724"';  David  6.  Aug  1727.  Sergt.  David  Osborn  died  in  1732. 

JOSEPH  s.  of  Capt.  John  Osborn  I.  m.  Hannah  d.  of  —  Their  children  were  Elizabeth 

bapt.  28.  June  1719  ;  Nathan  b.  Jan.  I72O'1 ;   Hannah  bapt.  21.  June  1724  ;  Sarah  bapt.   5.    May 

1726  ;  Abigail,  b. ;  Olive  bapt.  7.  Sept.  1729  ;  Peter  bapt.  23.  May  1731.     Joseph  the  father 

died  in  1731.     F.  &  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

Eleazer  Osborn  &  Hannah  Bulkley  d.  of  Peter  Bulkley,  were  m.  29.  June  1738.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Eleanor  b.  n.  April  1739;  Sarah  27.  May,  1741,  David  3.  Sept.  1743,  Gershom  23. 

April  1746,  Hannah  21.  Nov.  1748,  Grissel   14   March    1751,  Ellen   18.  Dec.  1754,  Ebenezer . 

Eleazer  the  father  d.  20.  May  1788.     F.  Book  of  Births  &  Marriages. 

READ 

WILLIAM  REED,  Reid,  or  Read,  recorded  in  1673  a  large  amount  of  land,  &  also  land  deeded 
him  by  Thomas  Skidmore  of  F. ,  near  the  old  Uncoway  mill-creek.  He  may  have  been  said  Skid- 
more's  son-in-law.  He  also  purchased  of  Richard  Hubbell  a  dwelling  house  on  the  n.  w.  of  the 
Uncoway  creek,  near  the  present  stone  crossing,  or  Gould's  Bridge  as  it  is  now  called.  There  is  a 
record  2.  Sept.  1693,  in  A.  F.  T.  D.,  of  land  deeded  by  him  to  his  daughters  Sarah  &  Abigail, 
&  to  his  "loving  son  John  Read."  As  early  as  2.  Sept.  1673,  he  purchased  of  Cornelius  Hull  land 
adjoining  his  dwelling-house,  called  "the  calve's  pasture."  He  was  a  large  land-holder  in  F. 
A.  F.  T.  D. 

JOHN  I.  s.  of  William  Read  T.,  was  b.  at  F.  29.  Jan.  1679--.  (F.  T.  Rec.}  &  m.  Ruth  d.  of 
Lieut.  John  Talcott  of  Hartford,  &  sister  of  Governor  Joseph  Talcott.  He  thus  became  brother- 
in-law  of  Lieut.  Gov.  Nathan  Gold  of  F.,  who.  m.  his  wife's  sister  Hannah  Talcott  (Savage's  Gen. 
Die.}  He  first  studied  for  the  ministry  &  preached  at  Waterbury,  Hartford  &  Stratford.  His 
talents  meanwhile  inclined  to  the  law,  &  after  due  preparation,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1708; 
&  appointed  attorney  for  the  Queen  in  1812.  He  soon  after  settled  at  Redding  Ct.  where  he 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  fro  n  the  natives,  &  where  his  home  was  called  the  Read  manor. 
He  removed  to  Boston  about  1722,  &  was  soon  recognized  as  the  most  eminent  lawyer  in  New 
England  ;  became  a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council,  &  was  Attorney  General  of  Mass,  several 
years.  He  died  in  1749,  leaving  to  his  six  children  an  ample  fortune.  His  children  were  Ruth 
who  m.  14.  Sept.  1737,  Rev.  Nathaniel  Hum,  first  pastor  of  the  church  in  Redding,  Ct.  (F.  Par. 
&  T.  Rec.)  "John  ;  William  a  lawyer  of  Boston  who  died  a  bachelor  in  1780,  aged  70  years  ; 

*  Much  of  the  above  information  has  been  furnished  by  John  Osborn  Esqr.  of  Norwalk,  Conn. 


GENEALOGIES  403 

Mary,  who  m.  Capt.  Charles  Morris  of  Boston,  who  afterwards  removed  to  Halifax  Nova  Scotia, 
where  he  became  Chief  Justice  of  the  courts  ;  Abigail  who  m.  Joseph  Miller  of  Boston  ;  &  Deborah 
who  m.  first  a  Mr.  Willstead,  &  second  Henry  Paget  of  Smithfield  R.  I."  C.  B.  Todd"s  Hist. 
Redding. 

JOHN  2.  S.  of  John  Read  I.,  inherited  the  Read  manor  of  Redding.  He  was  a  wealthy  & 
influential  gentleman,  whose  name  often  appears  in  the  Rec'soi  F.,  where  he  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  1756  ;  &  was  appointed  on  the  3.  Nov.  1757  Colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Horse 
in  Conn.  He  first  m.  Mary  d.  of  John  Ilawley  of  Stratford  2.  Sept.  1723.  Their  children  were 
Mary  b.  2.  Sept.  1724;  John  16.  Jan.  1725*  ;  William  31.  Jan.  I73OL  ;  Hezekiah  23.  Feb.  1734*. 
Mrs.  Mary  Read  d.  14.  Feb.  1748.  Mr.  Read  next  m.  19.  Dec.  1750.  Sarah  d.  of  Samuel  Bradley 
of  Greenfield.  Their  children  were  Sarah  b.  27.  Nov.  1751  ;  Hezekiah  23  Feb.  1753  ;  Ruth  25. 
Sept  1754;  Deborah  5.  April  1756.  F.  Rec.  of  Births.  Mary  Read  m.  John  Harpin  ;  John  m. 
Zoa  Hillard  ;  William  m.  Sarah  Hawlty  of  Redding  ;  Hezekiah  m.  Anna  Gorham  ;  Sarah  first 
m.  Major  Jabez  Hill  of  Weston  (who  d.  in  1779)  &  second  Theodore  Munaon  ;  Ruth  m.  Jeremiah 
Mead  ;  Deborah  m.  Thomas  Benedict,  a  lawyer ;  Mabel  m.  Levi  Starr  ;  Esther  m.  Daniel  s.  of 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Bartlett ;  Zalmon  m.  Hulda  Bradley  of  Greenfield.  C.  Burr  Todd's  Hist,  of 
Redding. 

ROBINSON 

SAMUEL  ROBINSON  I.  settled  at  Barlow's  Plain.  Both  he  &  his  wife  Comfort  died  before  1680. 
leaving  s.  Samuel  the  sole  heir  of  his  estate.  His  wife  Comfort  appears  to  have  been  a  d.  of  John 
Cable  sr.,  as  in  the  F.  T.  Rec.  Samuel  Robinson  is  called  a  grand-son  of  John  Cable  Sr. 

SAMUEL  2.  s.  of  Samuel  Robinson  I.  also  settled  at  Barlow's  Plain,  &  m.  Abigail  1.  of  Danie, 
Lockwood  of  Bankside.  Their  d.  Damaris  was  b.  13.  April  1696.  His  will  of  2.  April  1698 
gives  w.  Abigail  &  d.  Damaris  his  estate,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them.  It  does  not  appear 
that  he  left  a  son,  but  in  the  G.  H.  Par.  Rec.  the  following  record  is  to  be  found  : 

JONATHAN  ROBINSON  m.  Lucretia  Thorp  —  April  1752.  Their  children  were  Samuel  b.  — 
May  1753;  Seth  TI.  Aug.  1754;  Jonathan  2.  Nov.  1760;  Jonathan  Robinson  next  m.  Elizabeth 
Canfield  14.  April  1763.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth  b.  18.  Nov.  1764  ;  Jonathan  13.  Sept. 
1765  ;  Lucretia  9.  Oct.  1768.  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

ROOTS 

SAVAGE  says,  Richard  Roots  was  at  Salem  Church  in  1636.  He  was  made  a  freeman  of  the 
Mass.  Bay  Colony  9.  March  1637.  &  was  probably  the  same  who  removed  to  Fairfield  early,  &  d. 
before  1653.  His  wid.  Margaret  m.  Michiel  Try. 

JOHN  ROOTS,  nephew  of  Richard  Roots,  was  given  land  by  his  Uncle  Michiel  Try  at  F. 

The  name  of  Roots,  says  Cothren,  appears  early  at  Hartford  &  Farmington.  Thomas  Roots 
was  in  the  land  division  at  Hartford  1639.  John  a  freeman  1663  of  Farmington,  d.  in  1685.  leav- 
ing children  Joseph,  Caleb,  Mary,  (w.  of  Isaac  Bronson)  &  Stephen.  A  John  Roots,  probably  s. 
of  the  above  John,  was  at  Woodbury  in  1685  ;  his  w.  Dorcas  d.  15.  May  1720,  &  he  d.  25.  May 
1723,  leaving  children.  Savage's  Gen.  Die. 

Much  may  be  found  of  the  Root  Family  in  "  Hoare's  Wiltshire"  in  the  Congressional 
Library  of  Washington.  They  were  evidently  a  family  of  distinction. 

ROWLAND 

HENRY  ROWLAND  was  at  F.  as  early  as  1649'-°,  'n  March  of  which  year,  he  purchased  John 
Grey's  home-lot  on  the  Frost  Square.  He  became  a  dividend  land  holder  in  the  town,  and  was 
for  some  years  an  "ordinary  "  or  inn-keeper.  He  died  in  1691.  His  will  is  dated  30.  Oct.  1690, 
in  which  he  mentions  that  he  was  "  well  stricken  in  years."  To  his  wife  Rebecca  he  gave  the  use 


404  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIE1D 

of  the  S.  E.  end  of  his  dwelling  house,  house-hold  goods  &all  moveable  estate  &c. ;  to  his  s.  Joseph 
he  gave  5s'  he  having  also  received  his  full  portion  of  his  estate,  &  to  s'd.  Joseph's  d.  2O-S>  &  to  his 
other  three  children  Is-  each  ;  to  his  ss.  Jonathan,  Israel  &  Henry  he  gave  all  his  lands,  &  all 
things  which  he  had  already  divided  to  them  by  deed  of  gift  ;  to  his  d.  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Sergt.  John  Wheeler  2O5-,  &  to  each  of  her  children  Is- ;  to  his  d.  Abigail,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Jones, 
20s-  &  to  each  of  the  children  Is-  ;  to  Rebecca  w.  of  Ebenezer  Smith  20%  &  to  each  of  her  children 
Is- ;  to  d.  Mary  w.  of  Daniel  Frost  2O5 ,  &  to  each  of  her  children  Is-  ;  &  5^.  to  his  grandson  Jona- 
than Smith,  then  living  with  him.  He  left  his  wife  sole  executrix  of  his  will,  &  his  loving 
friends  Capt.  John  Burr,  &  Sergt.  John  Thompson  over-seers  of  his  estate.  His  s.  Henry  died  the 
same  year  1691. 

JONATHAN  I.  s.  of  Henry  Rowland  I  ,  m.  Abigail  d.  of  John  Barlow  2.  28,  Jan.  1698,  &  died 
in  1691. 

JOSEPH  i.  s.  of  Henry  Rowland  i.,  settled,  at  Greenfield,  &  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Antony  Wilson. 
His  older  children  were,.not  bapt.  until  of  age.  When  the  Greenfield  parish  was  formed  in  1726, 
he  with  his  second  wife  Abigail,  "covenanted  &  were  bapt.  the  same  year;  his  d.  Sarah  cov.  & 
bapt.  24,  April  1726  ;  Mary,  Hannah  &  Deborah,  all  cov.  &  bapt.  26,  June  1726  ;  s.  Joseph  bapt. 
at  the  same  time.  G.  II.  Par.  Rec. 

JOSEPH  2.  s.  of  Joseph  Rowland  i.,  settled  at  Greenfield,  &  m.  Sarah  d.  of .  Their 

children  were  Sarah  and  Abigail  bapt.  24.  April  1726,  at  F. ;  Hannah  bapt.  in  infancy  ;  Joseph 
bapt.  ii.  Aug.  1746  ;  x  Jeremiah  b.  12.  Sept.  1748  ;  Daniel  b.  April  1750  ;  Jeremiah  again  b.  30. 
July  1758.  G.  H.  Par.  Rec. 

ISRAEL  i.  s.  of  Henry  Rowland  i..  inherited  the  family  homestead  on  the  Frost  Square,  it 

having  been  deeded  him  by  his  father  in  1689.  He  m. d.  of Their  children 

were  Mary  &  Elizabeth,  bapt.  10.  March  1694'';  Bethiah  13.  June  1697  ;  Rebecca  5.  April  1702; 
Deborah  3.  Oct.  1703  ;  Jude-anne  2.  June  1706;  John  i.  Oct.  1710.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

SAMUEL  s.  of  Rowland,  m. d.  of Their  children  were  Grace  bapt.  19. 

June  1709  ;  Samuel  i.  July  1711  ;  David  21.  Nov  1714  ;  Andrew  s.  of  Samuel  &  Abigail  (prob. 
second  wife)  22.  May  1737  ;  Grace  again  S.  Oct.  1738  ;  Abigail  27.  Feb.  1742^  F.  Par.  Rec. 

Savage  does  not  seem  to  be  able  to  reconcile  the  relation  of  the  early  Stratford  Samuel,  to  the 
Fairfield  branch  of  the  family.  He  says  "  Samuel  may  have  been  father  to  Henry  i.  of  F.,  but 
possibly  his  d.  Elizabeth  m.  before  1640,  James  Rogers,  to  whose  eldest  s.  Samuel,  he  gave  a  large 
estate." 

The  Rowlands  of  F.  have  always  stood  among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town,  holding  offices 
of  trust  &  influence.  The  late  Henry  Rowland  Esqr.  whose  elegant  mansion  stands  on  Obadiah 
Gilbert's  lot,  s.  w.  of  the  old  Burr  homestead,  is  one  of  the  most  imposing  in  the  town. 

SANDFORD 

EZEKIEL  SANDFORD  was  an  English  Engineer,  &  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  stockade 
fort  at  Say-brook,  which  guarded  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  River.  [Charles  Burr  Todd's  Hist. 
of  Redding  p.  215.]  He  was  probably  from  the  Milford  branch  of  this  family  in  New  England. 
He  was  in  F.  before  1660,  where  he  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  Henry  Whelpley  25.  April  1665.  Their 
children  were  Sarah  b.  5.  March  1666  ;  Ezckiel  6,  March  1668  ;  Mary  3.  April  1670  ;  Rebecca  13. 
Dec  1672  ;  Thomas  2.  May  1675  ;  Martha  29,  June  1677  ;  Elizabeth  6,  Sept.  1679.  Sarah  m. 
Cornelius  Hull  2.  ;  Mary  m.  Theophilus  Hull  i. ;  &  Rebecca  m.  John  Seely.  T.  Rec. 

EZEKIEL  s.  of  Ezckiel  Sandford  i,  m. —  d.  of .  Their  children  were  Joseph, 

Lemuel,  Zeckariah  &  Ezekiel,  all  bapt.  at  F.  27,  May  1705  ;  Rebecca  23.  Feb  1706-;  Ephraim 
27,  March  1709  ;  Abigail  29,  Aug.  1714  ;  Elnathan  i,  Sept.  1717  ;  Ruth  28,  June  1719.  F.  Par. 
Rec. 

THOMAS  s.  of  Ezekiel  Sandford    r.,  m. d.  of .      Their  children  were  Eliza- 


GENEALOGIES  405 

beth,  Hannah,  &  Eunice,  all  bapt.  26.  Aug  1705  ;  Thomas  4,  Oct  1707  ;  David  24.  Fcb  1711"'  ; 
Mary  2.  May  1714  ;  Sarah  n.  Nov  1716;  Tabitha  25.  Jan  1718^  ;  Tamar  16.  Aug  1724.  F. 
Par.  Rec. 

The  SandforcLs  first  lived  at  Pequonnock,  where  Ezekiel  I.,  owned  a  considerable  land,  &  was  a 
large  dividend  holder  of  lands  in  the  township.  His  descendants  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Redding,  where  the  name  is  still  found  to  this  day.  His  sons  Ezekiel  &  Thomas  Sandford  agreed 
to  divide  their  long-lot,  which  stretched  up  into  Redding  in  1699,  &  upon  which  they  «!v:  their  heirs 
settled. 

SEELEY 

ROBERT  SEELEY  probably  came  with  Winthrop's  fleet,  &  was  made  a  freeman  of  Mass.  Colony 
18.  May  1631,  with  Jehu  Burr,  TJiomas  ^ord^S:  William  Bateman.  He  settled  at  Watertown  ;  was 
surveyor  in  1634  ;  removed  to  Weathersfield  in  1636,  &  the  same  yr,  was  appointed  by  the  Gen. 
Ct.  of  Conn,  to  take  an  inventory  of  John  Oldham's  estate.  On  the  I.  of  May  1637,  he  was 
appointed  as  first  Leut.  of  Capt.  John  Mason's  expedition  against  the  Pequot  Indians,  on  the  Mystic 
&  Pequot  or  Thames  Rivers.  He  proved  a  valiant  soldier,  &  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first 
to  enter  the  Mystic,  fort  &  to  clear  away  the  brushwood  entrance,  after  Capt.  Mason  had  leaped 
over  it.  He  received  a  wound  in  the  eye-brow  during  the  encounter.  On  the  2.  of  June  follow- 
ing, the  Gen.  Ct.  gave  him  command  of  thirty  men  out  of  the  Connecticut  River  plantations,  "  to 
sit  down  in  the  Pequot  country  &  river,  in  place  convenient,  to  maintain  the  right  that  God  by  con- 
quest has  given  them."  For  his  services  he  wras  paid  2OS  a  week,  "  the  week  to  consist  of  six 
days  ;  "  &  150  bushels  of  corn  from  the  inhabitants  of  Weathersfield.  In  1639  he  joined  the  New 
Haven  Colony,  where  his  name  appears  among  the  first  list  of  freemen  of  that  year.  He  signed 
the  fundamental  agreement,  at  the  gathering  of  the  church  4.  June  of  the  same  year.  In  Oct.  he 
was  admitted  a  member  of  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  New  Haven  with  others,  who  had  been  "  members  of 
other  approved  chuiches. "  At  the  same  time  he  was  chosen  marshal  ;  "  his  employment  cSc 
charge,  from  time  to  time,  was  to  warn  courts,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  magistrates,  to 
secure  &  execute  warrants  ;  to  attend  the  court  at  all  times,  to  be  ready  &  diligent  in  his  person, 
or  by  his  deputy  to  execute  the  sentence  of  the  court  ;  &  in  all  other  occasions  to  attend  the  service 
of  the  plantation  in  tilings  appertaining  to  his  office."  He  was  given  leave  to  return  to  England 
in  1646,  but  came  back  in  a  few  years,  &  in  1654,  he  led  the  forces  raised  in  New  Haven  to  be 
placed  under  the  command  of  the  English  officers  Sedgwick  £  Leavitt  against  the  New  Nether- 
lands ;  but  fortunately  no  blood  was  shed,  by  the  timely  tidings  of  peace  in  Europe:  [New  Haven 
Col.  Rec.].  In  1662  the  Gen.  Ct.  awarded  him  i$.£.  out  of  the  public  treasury,  &  ordered  that  the 
house  at  the  Say-Brook  Fort,  should  be  repaired  for  his  use,  while  he  took  charge  of  the  ammuni- 
tion of  the  fortress.  In  Oct.  of  the  same  year,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn,  commis- 
sioner for  Huntington,  L.  I.  In  May  1663,  the  Gen.  Ct.,  after  considering  a  controversy  between 
him  &  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford,  ordered  that  town  to  pay  him  25^.  in  some  current  pay,  &  he 
was  to  make  over  to  the  town  his  lands  there,  whether  he  purchased  Jhem  of  the  Indians,  or 
received  a  grant  of  them  from  the  town.  In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  the  chief  Military 
officer  of  Huntington,  to  exercise  their  trained  soldiers.  Savage  says  he  was  in  New  York  after  it's 
conquest  &  there  died.  His  widow  Mary  administered  upon  his  estate  19.  Oct.  1668. 

LIEUT  NATHANIEL  s.  of  Robert  Seeley  i.,  who  was  in  New  Haven  in  1646,  about  1649.  m. 
Mary  d.  of  Benjamin  Turney  ;  [A.  F.  T.  Deeds]  ;  removed  to  F.,  &  was  made  a  freeman  in  1647. 
He  again  m.  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Nehemiah-Olmstead  (who  was  probably  a  d.  of  Jehue  Burr  i.\ 
In  1673,  he  recorded  a  grant  of  land  from  the  town  of  S  acres.  &  by  part  purchase  land  adjoining  his 
home-lot,  called  Seeley's  Neck,  bounded  n.  with  a  highway  at  ordinary  high  tide  ;  e.  &  s.  with 
creek  or  part  of  it,  &  on  all  other  sides  with  his  own  land.  He  also  purchased  "  a  sedge  marsh  of 
15  acres,  lying  between  Paul's  Neck  &  Seeley's  Neck;  "  bounded  s  w.  with  the  meadowof  Wiliiam 
Hill  &  the  commons.  "  He  was  not  allowed  to  go  further  than  his  present  daniTbctween  Paul's 


4C6  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Neck  &  a  little  Island  west  of  it;  no  farther  southward  than  his  dam  from  the  little  Island,  that  ran 
into  the  east  end  of  Paul's  Neck,  or  between  the  two  abovesaid  dams,  &  the  edge  of  the  upland 
bank,  next  his  marsh  on  the  top  of  the  bank,  bounded  on  the  n.  e.  with  the  sedge  marsh  ;  n.  w. 
with  his  own  land,  &  the  south  bend  of  the  highway,  before  his  house  &  the  land  of  Robert 
Turney."*  In  1675,  he  was  commissioned  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn.  Lieut,  of  F.  county  in  Philip's 
War,  &  was  killed  on  the  19.  Dec.  in  the  Great  Swamp  Fight,  while  gallantly  leading  his  men 
over  the  gnarled  log  or  tree,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Indian  fort.  He  left  10.  children,  namely, 
Nathaniel,  Robert,  Benjamin,  Joseph,  John,  Mary,  Sarah,  Phebe  &  Rebecca.  Elizabeth  his  widow 
deeded  land  to  her  son  Obediah  Seeley,  after  the  death  of  her  husband. 

OBEDIAH  SEELEY,  probably  s.  of  Lieut.  Robert  i.  settled  at  Stamford  &  m.  the  widow  of  John 
Miller  of  that  place,  but  died  in  1657,  leaving  widow  &  sons,  Obediah,  Cornelius  &  Jonas. 
Savage's.  Gen.  Die. 

SERGT.  NATHANIEL  2.,  s.  of  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Seeley  I.,  settled  at  F.  &  m.  Hannah  d.  of  John 
Odell  i.  Their  children  were  Nathaniel  b.  24.  May  1678  ;  James  19.  April  1681  ;  &  probably 
others.  He  was  deeded  by  his  father  the  seventh  part  of  his  interest  in  his  Perpetual  Common. 
He  sold  in  1687  his  interest  in  the  nine  score  acres  of  land,  given  his  father  by  the  Indians  at  the 
junction  of  the  Scuigtauck  &  Aspetuck  rivers,  to  his  brothers  Joseph  &  John.  He  was  a  large 
land  holder  in  F.  He  died  1688.  His  widow  m.  Isaac  Stirling. 

ROBERT  SEELEY  s.  of  Nathaniel  I.,  m.  Sarah  d.  of &  had  sons  Joseph  &John  &d.  Sarah. 

He  died  early. 

BENJAMIN  s.  of  Nathaniel  Seeley  i.,  purchased  in  1678,  his  father's  mansion-house  of  his 
brother  Nathaniel,  as  administrator  on  the  estate  of  their  deceased  father.  He  m.  a  d.  of  John 
Sturges  i.,  &  sold  to  his  father-in-law,  John  Sturges,  one  half  of  the  family  mansion,  in  which  Joseph 
Turney  lived,  (who  had  m  his  sister).  No  record  of  his  children  is  found. 

LIEUT.  JOSEPH  s.  of  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Seeley  i.,m.  Sarah  d.  of ,  &  settled  at  Pequonnock. 

Their  children  were  Ephraim  b.  9.  Sept.  1684  ;  Samuel  12.  April  1686.  Both  he  &  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  church  at  Pequonnock  in  1695.  F.  T.  &  Pequonnock  C.  Rec. 

JOHN  s.  of  Nathaniel  Seeley  i.,  settled  at  F.,  &  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  Ezekiel  Sandford  i.  He  next 
m.  Sarah,  d.  of  George  Squire.  His  children  were  Sarah  bapt.  28.  Oct.  1694  ;  John  the  father  died 
soon  after,  &  his  son  Nehemiah  was  baptized  by  his  mother  Sarah,  12.  July  1696  ;  &  sons  Robert 
&  Nathaniel,  &  d.  Sarah  30.  Aug.  1696.  F.  T.  Rec. 

SILL1MAN 

DANIEL  SILLIVANT,  SILLEMAN  or  Sillemant,  was  in  Fairfield  1658.  The  name  is  derived  from 
a  silly-man,  not  silly  or  witless,  as  the  word  is  used  in  modern  times,  but  innocent,  free  of  guile, — a 
good  man.  About  1690  the  name  came  to  be  spelled  Silliman.  Whether  the  above  Daniel  was 
related  to  Daniel  Sillivant  or  Selevant  of  New  Haven,  who  married  before  1652  Abigail  only  d.  of 
James  Cole  f  of  Hartford,  is  the  Daniel  S.,  who  m.  17.  Oct.  1654  Eliza  Lamberton,  d.  of  Capt. 
George  Lamberton,  (ma'ster  of  the  famous  Phantom  ship,  or  the  ship  in  the  Air,  lost  in  1646), 
Savage  does  not  seem  to  be  able  to  reconcile.  He  states  that  in  the  New  Haven  records  one 
William  Trowbridge  9.  March  1667  was  married  at  Milford  to  Elizabeth  widow  of  Daniel  Sillivant 
&  d.  of  George  Lamberton.  "  But  before  this  m.  &  after  the  death  of  Sillivant,  his,  Lamberton's 
widow  Elizabeth,  had,  Oct.  1655,  conveyed  to  John  Cole  of  Hartford,  the  house  &  lands  given  to 
her  husband  &  his  former  wife  Abigail,  by  James  Cole  her  father  in  his  will,"  yet  he  goes  on  to 
state,  "  that  the  said  Daniel  died  in  Virginia  in  1655,  leaving  a  will,  probated  in  June  of  the  same 

*This  valuable  record  gives  the  full  clue  to  the  situation  of  Paul's  Neck  &  Seeley's  Neck. 

•f  James  Cole  m.  the  widow  of  —  —  Edwards  in  England,  who  was  the  mother  of  William  Edwards  of 
Hartford.  Richard  the  son  of  this  William  Edwards,  m.  Mary  d.  of  Lieut  Col.  John  Talcott  of  Hartford  by  his 
first  wife  Helena  Wakeman,  d.  of  Rev.  John  Wakeman  of  New  Haven.— Goodwin. 


GENEALOGIES  4O/ 

year,  naming  widow  ;  but  there  have  been  doubts,  however  indistinct,  if  the  name  were  not  the 
same  with  the  (Daniel  Silliman)  man's  in  the  former  article."  Turning  to  the  48  p.  of  Goodwin's 
Genealogical  Notes,  I  find  that  he  spells  this  name  Sullavane  &  not  Sillevant  as  Savage  has  it  :  but 
it  is  plain  that  Daniel  Sullavane  &  Daniel  Sillevant  were  one  &  the  same,  who  married  James 
Cole's  d  :  Abigail.  The  probability  is  that  this  Daniel  Sillivant  was  closely  related  to  the  Daniel 
of  F.  Tradition  relates  that  the  first  Daniel  of  F.  was  from  Holland.  Savage  goes  on  to  say, 
"  &  the  derivation  is  quite  distinct  from  the  city  of  Lucca  in  Italy,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Prot 
estant  reformation  throughout  Geneva,  where  had  settled  the  father  of  one  Daniel.  This  Daniel 
was  chosen  in  1575,  into  the  Council  of  200  for  that  Republic."  It  has  been  suggested  by  persons 
familiar  with  the  nomenclature  &  pronunciation  of  family  names,  that  this  Sillivant  may  have  been 
of  Irish  extraction.  Close  investigation  upon  this  suggestion  may  lead  to  a  clearer  solution  of  facts. 

DANIEL  SILLIVANT  i.  of  F.  entered  into  a  marriage  contract  in  July  1661  with  Peacable,  the 
widow  of  John  Eggleston  *  of  F.  He  purchased  of  Joseph  Middlebrook  sr..  as  administrator  on 
the  estate  of  John  Eggleston,  ten  acres  of  land  left  for  the  use  of  Eggleston's  son,  bounded  n.  & 
w.  with  a  highway,  s.  e.  with  a  run  of  water  lying  on  the  other  side  of  the  mill-creek,  under  the 
hill  (Uncoway  creek)  near  the  place  where  Samuel  Morehouse's  old  mill  stood.  This  lot  was  s. 
w.  of  the  present  Black  Rock  bridge.  He  was  afterwards  granted  2i  acres  "at  the  wading  place," 
over  the  creed,  bounded  west  by  a  sedge  marsh,  the  town  reserving  the  right  to  use  the  stones  to 
build  a  bridge  over  said  creek.  By  his  in.  with  Peacable  Eggleston,  it  is  said  he  had  sons  Daniel, 
Thomas  &  Robert.  His  second  wife  was  Hannara,  Henichyor  Hannah  widow  of  '*  Hendrick"  or 
"  Henry  Hendrickson."  He  was  a  man  of  influence,  &  was  one  of  the  land  dividend  holders  in 
the  town.  He  died  intestate  in  1690.  The  inventory  of  his  estate,  valued  at  302^.  14!  6d. .  was 
made  13,  of  Jan  1690^.  His  property  was  divided  between  his  widow  "  Hannara  "  &  his  three 
sons. 

DANIEL  2.  s.  of  Daniel  Silliman  i.,  m.  Abigail  d.  of who  was  not  bapt.   until  30, 

Dec.    1694.     Their  children  were  Daniel,  John,  Abigail,   Mary,  &  Peacable,  all  bapt.  12.   May 
1695  ;  &  Jemima  u.  April  1697.     F.  Par.  Rec.     Daniel  the  father  died  in  1697. 

THOMAS  Silliman  died  a  bachelor  in  1712  ;  &  his  estate  was  divided  between  his  brother 
Robert  &  the  children  of  Daniel  2. 

CAPT.  JOHN  I.,  s.  of  Daniel  Silliman  2.  m.  Annah  d.  of .    Their  children  were  Sarah 

bapt.  23.  March  i7i7Ltt  ;  Anne  i.  Nov.  1719  ;  Abigail  5.  Nov.  1721  ;  Mary  23.  Feb.  1723* 

DANIEL  3.  s.  of  Daniel  Silliman  2.  m.  Thankful  d.  of &  died  in   1717.     He  does 

not  appear  to  have  had  any  children. 

ROBERT  i.,  s.  of  Daniel  Silliman  I.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Cornelius  Hull  I.  .  Their  children  were 
Sarah  bapt.  16.  Sept.  1694  ;  Nathaniel  27.  Sept.  1696  ;  Anne  12.  March  1698'^  ;  Martha  24.  Aug: 
1701  ;  Robert  19.  March  I7O34  ;  Rebecca  8.  April  1705  ;  Ebenezer  21.  Sept.  1707.  Robert  the 
i  i-.her  died  in  1748. 

Robert  2.  s.  of  Robert  Silliman  I.  m.  20.  Oct  1715,  Ruth  d.  of  Samuel  Tredwell  of  Pequon- 
nock.  Their  children  were  Robert,  b.  26.  Sept.  1716  ;  Ruth  bapt.  24.  Aug  1718  ;  Daniel  b.  31. 
Dec  1722;  Sarah  b.  17.  Feb  1728"-  ;  John  b.  9.  April  1731.  Ruth  wife  of  Robert  Silliman  died 
15.  March  1756  ;  &  he  m.  2d  wife  Mary  Morehouse  14.  Dec.  1756.  Their  children  were  Ruth  b. 
19.  Aug  1760,  &  perhaps  others. 

EBENEZER  s.  of  Robert  Silliman  I.  m.  8.  Oct.  1728,  Abigail  d.  of  Gold  Selleck  of  Stamford. 
Their  children  were  Gold  Selleck,  b,  7,  May  1732,  &  bapt.  14.  May  following  ;  Ebenezer  b.  21. 
June  1734  &  bapt.  7.  July  of  same  year;  Amelia  b,  30.  Oct.  1736  &  bapt.  31.  Oct.  next  day  ; 
Hezekiah  b,  n.  March  1738  9,  &  bapt.  18.  March  following  ;  Jonathan  b.  31.  Aug.  &  bapt.  5.  Sept. 
1742  ;  Abigail  b.  28.  Oct.  1745,  &  bapt.  10.  Nov.  same  year  ;  Deodate  b.  13,  Sept.  1749  &  bapt  31. 
Dec.  An  illustration  of  early  baptisms. 

*  John  Eggleston  died  in  1659.  leaving  one  son  John,  who  died  not  many  years  after  his  father. 


408  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Gen.  GOLD  SELLECK,  s.  of  Ebenezer  Silliman  I.  m.  21.  Jan  1754  Martha  d.  of  Rev.  John  & 
Martha  Gold  Selleck  Davenport.  Their  children  were  William,  b.  22.  July  1756;  Priscilla  b.  22 
June  1772  &  d.  23.  Nov.  1/73.  Mrs.  Martha  Silliman  d.  I.  Aug.  1773.  Gen.  Gold  Selleck 
Silliman  m.  2d-«  24.  May  1775  at  Stonington,  Mary  wid.  of  Rev.  Joseph  Xoycs  of  New  Haven,  & 
d.  of  Rev.  Joseph  Fish  of  Stonington,  &  great  grand  daughter  of  John  Alden  &  Priscilla  Mullens. 
Their  children  were  Gold  Selleck,  b.  26.  Oct.  1777,  &  Benjamin  b.  8.  Aug.  1779  a  well-known  law- 
yer of  New  York.  Gen  Silliman  d.  21.  July  1790.  His  son  Gold  Sclleck  d.  in  Brooklyn  L.  I.  1868. 
Benjamin  became  the  distinguished  professor  of  Yale  College,  who  d.  in  1864  at  a  ripe  old  age  & 
crowned  with  many  honors.  He  left  a  son  Benjamin,  who  also  became  a  professor  of  distinction 
at  Yale.  William  Silliman,  s  of  Gen.  Gold  Selleck  Silliman  was  a  Major  in  the  Revolution. 

SHERWOOD 

THOMAS  SHERWOOD  was  born  1585-6  in  England.  In  April,  1634,  he,  his  wife  Alice,  and 
children  Ann,  Rose,  Thomas  and  Rebecca,  sailed  from  Ipswich,  Co.  Suffolk,  England,  in  ship 
Frances.  He  was  for  a  time  at  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  and  appeared  at  Fairfield  as  early  as  1648, 
when  a  bill  of  sale  of  land  to  John  Holly  by  Sherwood,  appears  on  Stamford  (Ct.)  land  records. 
In  1650  he  bought  land  at  Barlow's  Plain,  Fairfield.  His  will,  dated  July  21,  1655,  and  offered  for 
probate  Oct.  25th  of  same  year,  names  children  by  first  wife,  Jane,  Tomson,  (probably  Thomasine,) 
Margaret,  Sarah,  Hannah,  (probably  the  "Ann"  of  1634,)  Rose,2  Thomas2  and  Rebecca.2  It 
also  mentions  his  second  wife  Mary  and  her  children,  as  follows  :  Stephen,  Matthew,  Mary,  Ruth, 
Abigail  and  Isaac,  fourteen  children  in  all.  His  estate  amounted  to  ,£392.  His  widow  Mary 
married  John  Banks,  a  pronfinent  man  at  Fairfield,  afterwards  at  Rye,  N.  Y.  She  died  1693/4, 
John  Banks  having  died  in  1684. 

Of  above  children,  it  is  probable  that  Jane  Tomson,  Margaret  and  Sarah  remained  in  Eng- 
land, their  father's  age  being  mentioned  as  48  when  he  came  to  America. 

Of  Rose2  nothing  positive  is  known,  but  she  was  probably  the  Rose  who  married  i^,  Thomas 
Rumble  of  Stafford,  2^  Thomas  Barlow  of  Fairfield,  and  3^  Edward  Nash  of  Norwalk.  In  1699 
Edward  Nash,  then  of  Norwalk,  deeded  land  to  his  kinsman,  Isaac  Sherwood. 

Thomas2  Sherwood  (Thomas1)  is  called  ten  years  of  age  in  1634,  when  his  father  came  over. 
He  was  admitted  freeman  at  Hartford  Oct.  13,  1664.  He  was  the  first  miller  at  Mill  River,  in 
Fairfield.  He  married  four  times,  as  follows  : 

First,  Sarah  Wheeler,  dau.  Thomas  and  Anne  Wheeler,  by  whom  he  had  : 

Thomas, 3  born  before  1654  ;  died  1699,  at  Fairfield. 

Sarah,  3  born  before  1659  ;  she  married  John  Whitlock. 

Sarah  Wheeler  died  before  Aug.  21,  1659. 

Second,  Ann  Tumey,  dau.  Benjamin  and  Mary  Tumey,  and  had  : 

Mary  '  ;  she  married  David  Whitlock 

Benjamin  3  ;  died  about  1737. 

Samuel, 3  who  died  June,  1725,  at  Fairfield. 

Ruth,  3 

Hannah  3 

Abigail, 3  married  David  Ogden.  who  died  May  I,  1/44,  at  Greenfield,  in  74th  year. 

Third,  Elizabeth  Cable,  widow  of  John  Cable,  Jr.,  by  whom  he  had  : 

Isaac, 3  died  1748  at  Norwalk,  Ct. 

Phoebe,3  who  married  Samuel  Bradley,  Sr. 

Fourth,  Sarah  Coley,  widow  of  Peter  Coley  and  daughter  of  Humphrey  Hide.  By  her  he  had 
no  children. 

Thomas2  Sherwood  died  in  Fairfield,  1697. 

Stephen  -  Sherwood  married  three  times,  as  follows  : 


GENEALOGIES  409 

First,  Rebecca  Tumey,  daughter  Benjamin  and  Mary  Tumey. 

Second,  Hannah  (Jackson)  Galpin,  widow  of  Philip  Galpin  and  daughter  of  Henry  Jackson. 
This  marriage  took  place  between  May  22,  1686,  and  Oct.  30,  1688. 

'J '  hird.  Mary  Merwin,  widow  of Merwin  before  that  widow  of  Luke  Guire,  and  daugh- 
ter Edward  and  Mary  Adams.  This  marriage  took  place  between  1697  and  1701.  No  children  by 
her.  Mary  (Adams)  [Guire]  [Merwin]  Sherwood  was  born  in  1647  and  died  1712,  a  widow,  at 
Fail-field. 

Stephen  Sherwood's  children,  of  whom  possibly  four  were  by  second  wife,  were  • 

Stephen  3;  died  about  1713  at  Rye,  N.  Y. 

Joseph, 3 

Daniels  ;  died  1715  at  Fairfield. 

Mary,3  who  married  Daniel  Burr  of  Fairfield  as  his  second  wife.     She  died  before  1696. 

Nathaniel, 3  died  1733,  at  Rye,  N.  Y.,  leaving  nine  children. 

Jabez,3  died  about  1704  at  Greenwich,  Ct.,  unmd. 

Jonathan, 3  of  Rye,  N.  Y.,  in  1731. 

Samuel, 3  of  Rye,  N.  Y.,  in  1743. 

Andrew,3  died  before  1736  at  Rye,  N.  Y.,  leaving  son  Daniel. 
'John,  3  died  about  1731  at  Rye,  N.  Y. 

Ruth,3  who  married  a  Merritt. 

Matthew  2  Sherwood  (Thomas  ' ),  known  as  Captain  Matthew,  died  Oct.  26,  1715.  at  Stratfield, 
(now  Bridgeport.)  Ct.,  in  his  72^  year.  He  married,  ist,  Sarah  Tumey,  daughter  Benjamin  and 
Mary  Tumey,  by  whom  he  had  : 

Matthew, 3  who  died  1709  at  Fairfield 

Captain  Matthew2  Sherwood,  married  2^.,  Mary  Fitch,  daughter  Thomas  Fitch  of  Norwalk,  Ct. 
By  her  he  had  : 

Samuel,3  who  died  Nov.  10,  1732,  at  Stratfield.  in  his  52^  year,  of  malignant  fever. 

Lemuels ;  died  Sep.  2,  1732,  at  Stratfield,  of  dropsy. 

John  3 ;  died  1696  at  Stratford,  Ct. 

Mary  ;3died  Sep.  16,  1752,  at  Montville,  Ct. 

Sarah3  ;  died  May  25,  1743,  at  Stratfield,  in  67th  year. 

Ann  3 

Mary  (Fitch)  Sherwood  died  Dec.  25,  1730,  ae.  abt.  87.  Her  grave  stone  has  word  "  about  " 
on  it. 

Ruth2  Sherwood  (Thomas1),  is  probably  the  Ruth  Sherwood  who  married  Joshua  Holcomb  of 
Simsbury,  Ct.,  June  4,  1662/3.  (Savage,  Vol.  5,  p.  227.) 

Isaac  2  Sherwood  (Thomas  '  )  married  Elizabeth  Jackson,  dau.  John  and  Elizabeth  Jackson 
before  1676,  when  he  received  grant  from  town  of  Eastchester,  N.  Y.  In  1678  he  was  of  Rye, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1687  bought  land  at  Compo,  (\Yestport,)  Ct.,  where  he  was  still  living  in  1733. 
His  children  were  Daniel,3  Isaac, 3  John,3  David,3  Abigail,3  Thomas, 3  and  Elizabeth.  3 

Thomas3   Sherwood  (Thomas2    Thomas1)  married  Sarah .      His  children  were  : 

William,*  who  is  mentioned  as  having  been  at  Cape  May  ; 

Rebecca;4  Mary4;  Ruth4;  Margery4  ;  Thomas4  ;  Evis. 4  This  family  removed  to  East- 
Chester,  N.  Y. 

Benjamin  3  Sherwood  (Thomas,-  Thomas' )  married  Sarah  .      His  children  were  : 

Mindwell,  4b.  Sep.  8,  1696  ; 

Mary,  4  b.  Jan.  8,   1692  3  ; 

Benjamin,4  b.  Mch.  I,  1700/1  ; 

Joseph, 4  b.  Nov.  21,  1702  ; 

Noah,4  b.  May  8,  1707; 


410  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Sarah,  *  b.  Aug.  12,  1711  ; 

Samuel 3  Sherwood  (Thomas.2  Thomas')  married  at  Fairrield  and  had  : 

Sarah4  ; 

Samuel  4  ;  md.  Jane  Burr. 

Abigail4  ; 

Anne4 ; 

Daniel,4  b.  Apl.  5,  1708  ;  d.  Feb.  20,  1784,  at  Greenfield. 

Ruth 3  Sherwood  (Thomas2  Thomas1)  married  1st  Samuel  Drake,  son  Samuel  and  Ann  (Bar- 
low) Drake.  2^,  John  Barlow,  son  John  and  Abigail  (Lockwood)  Barlow. 

Hannah 3  Sherwood  (Thomas2  Thomas1)  married  ist,  John  Bradley,  eldest  son  Francis  and 
Ruth  (Barlow)  Bradley,  and  had  : 

Abigail 4  Bradley  : 

John4  Bradley. 

Elizabeth4  Bradley: 

Ruth  4  Bradley  : 

Joseph4  Bradley ',  from  whom  is  descended  Chief  Justice  Joseph  P.  Bradley. 

Hannah  4  Bradley. 

Hannah  3  Sherwood  married  2^,  Cornelius  Jones  of  Stamford,  Ct.,  by  whom  she  had  Rebecca, 
Samuel,  Deborah  and  Nathan. 

Isaac 3  Sherwood  (Thomas2  Thomas1)  was  at  Norwalk,  Ct.,  as  early  as  1694.  He  married 
Mary  and  had  : 

Isaac,  4 

Rebecca,  4 

Elizabeth,  4 

John. 4 

Stephen 3  Sherwood  (Stephen2  Thomas')  married  Mary  (probably  Hoyt.)  His  children  were  : 

Mary  4 

Stephen  4 

Joseph  3  Sherwood  (Stephen  2  Thomas  r )  married  Elizabeth .     Children  : 

Joseph,4  Elizabeth,4  Phoebe,4  all  of  Rye,  N.  Y. 

Daniels  Sherwood  (son  Stephen2)  married  Tabitha .     He  left  no  children. 

Matthew  Sherwood,  Jr3  (son  Capt.  Matthew)  married  Elizabeth  Morehouse,  dau.  Samuel  and 
Rebecca  (Odell)  Morehouse,  and  died  1709,  leaving  daughter,  Sarah,4  who  married  Timothy  Tred- 
well  She  died  before  1713. 

Samuels  Sherwood,  (son  Capt.  Matthew,)  married  Rebecca  Burr,  dau.  Nathaniel  and  Sarah 
(Ward)  Burr,  Nov.  30,  1704.  Burr  Genealogy  is  wrong  in  saying  she  was  daughter  of  Nathaniel's 
second  wife  Ann. 

Samuel  3  Sherwood's  children  : 

John  4  ;  first  minister  Baptist  church  at  Stratfield. 

Nathaniel.4 

Sarah.4 

Mary.4. 

Abigail.4 

Rebecca.4 

Esther.4 

Thomas.4 

Andrew. 4 

Samuel  3  Sherwood  married  2<? ,  Mary  (Wheeler)  Jackson,  widow  of  Henry  Jackson  and 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Martha  (Park)  Wheeler,  by  whom  he  had  : 

Prudence.4 


GENEALOGIES  411 

Lemuel  3  Sherwood  (son  Capt.  Matthew)  was  known  as  Deacon  Lemuel,  and  was  Town  Clerk 
many  years. 

He  married  ist,  Ann  Wheeler,  dau.  Sergeant  John  and  Elizabeth  (Rowland)  Wheeler.  A 
Nathan  Sherwood,  born  1703,  afterwards  of  Stamford,  was  son  of  Lemuel,  probably  by  the  first 
wife.  Lemuel,  in  his  will  (1732)  calls  Matthew  "  my  eldest  son." 

Dea.  Lemuel  Sherwood  md.  2d ,  Experience  Wheeler,  dau.  Isaac  and  Martha  (Park)  Wheeler, 
May  17,  1711,  by  whom  he  had :  Matthew,4  Hannah*;  Anne4;  Abiah4  (md.  David  Middlebrooks 

of  Stratford);   Mehetable4  (md Hubbell),   and  Andrew.4     Anne  Sherwood  married  John 

Brooks  of  Stratford. 

Dea.  Lemuel  Sherwood  md.  3d  Joannah  Phippeny,  (probably  widow  James  Phippeny,)  Mch. 
8,  1722. 

Dea.  Lemuel  Sherwood  md.  4th,  Anne  Silliman,  dau.  Robert  and  Sarah  (Hull)  Silliman,  June 
27,  1728,  and  had  : 

Experience.4 

Samuel.4 

Hannah.4 

John  3  Sherwood  (Matthew 2  Thomas  ' )  married  Joannah  Booth,  dau.  Ephraim  and  Mary  Booth 
and  had  :  Jemimah.  who  married  John  Gold. 

Mary 3  Sherwood  (Matthew2  Thomas1)  married  il1,  Captain  Daniel  Fitch,  son  Rev.  James 
and  Priscilla  (Mason)  Fitch  of  Norwich,  Ct. ,  by  whom  she  had  five  children. 

She  married  2d ,  Joseph  Bradford,  son  of  Major  William  and  Widow  (Wiswall)  Bradford,  and 
grandson  of  Gov.  William  Bradford,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  John,  Bradford,  born  May  20, 
1717,  at  Mohegan  ;  died  March  10,  1787,  at  Montvillc,  Ct. 

Sarah  3  Sherwood  (dau.  Capt.  Matthew2)  married  1st,  Ephraim  Wheeler  ;  2d  Benjamin  Fayer- 
weather  ;  3d ,  Anthony  Nouguier,  the  latter  a  money-lender  of  that  period. 

Ann  3  Sherwood,  (dau.  Capt.  Matthew),  married  Ist  Joseph  Trowbridge  ;  2d ,  Caleb  Fairchild. 

By  W.  L.  Sherwood,  of  Newark,  N.  J., 

Author  of  The  Sherwood  Genealogy. 

SPRAGUE 

WILLIAM  SPRAGUE  who  settled  at  F.,  was  probably  of  the  Hingham  family  of  Spragues,  &  yet  I 
find  no  connecting  link.  His  record  of  lands  at  F.  was  recorded  23.  Oct  1680.  He  m.  Hannah 
d.  of  Humphrey  Hide  I,  &  purchased  of  Samuel  Coley  25.  June  1696,  the  home-lot  which  his 
grandfather  Humphrey  Hide  left  him  next  the  rocks.  On  the  25.  of  Jan.  1697*,  he  sold  one  half 
of  this  home-lot  to  Jonathan  Sturgis,  bounded  n.  w.  with  the  rocks,  s.  w.  land  of  said  Jonathan 
Sturgis,  &  n.  e.  with  the  highway.  He  also  sold  said  Jonathan  Sturgis  land  lying  s.  w.  of  this,  & 
the  east  end  of  his  dwelling  house,  with  the  chimneys,  all  his  bedding,  trammels,  tongs,  kettles,  or 
whatsoever  he  possessed  in  F. ;  &  with  the  consent  of  his  nonage  d.  Hannah  four  acres  in  Mill 
Plain.  Benjamin  Rumsey  &  John  Hyde  purchased  through  Philip  Lewis,  the  long-lot  which 
Sprague  sold  to  said  Lewis.  Besides  the  d.  Hannah  above  mentioned,  there  was  born  to  William 
Sprague  a  s.  Humphrey  8.  June  1680. 

SQUIRE 

GEORGE  SQUIRE  or  Squier  I.  was  at  Concord  in  1642,  where,  says  Savage,  he  had  a  s.  b.  n. 
March  1643,  &  removed  to  F.  about  1644,  probably  with  the  Rev.  John  Jones,  or  very  soon  after. 
He  was  one  of  the  sharers  in  the  land  dividends  of  the  township.  His  children  were,  Thomas, 
John,  Jonathan,  Samuel,  &  d.  Sarah  who  m.  John  Seely.  He  mentions  his  grand-son  George,  s.  of 
his  s.  George,  in  his  will. 


412  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

GEORGE  2.  s.  of  George  Squire  I.,  was  propounded  for  a  freeman  in  1672,  but  d.  as  early  as 
1674,  leaving  a  s.  George. 

SERGT.  THOMAS  i.,  s.  of  George  Squire  i.  was  propounded  for  a  freeman  with  his  brother 
George  in  1672.  He  was  an  early  settler  at  Wocdbury.  Savage  thinks  he  was  first  at  Stratford 
He  d.  9.  April  1712,  leaving  s.s.  Thomas  ;  Samuel  ;  Ebenezer  ;  John  ;  &  ds.  Hannah  ;  Martha  : 
Sarah;  Elizabeth;  all  bapt.  —  Aug.  1697.  lie  had  another  s.  Joseph  b.  25.  Dec  1698.  His 
descendants  were  numerous  &  highly  respectable.  See  "  Cothren's  Hist,  of  Ancient  Woodbury." 

JONATHAN  i  s.  of  George  Squire  i.  m.  d.  of .     Their  children  were  :  Abigail  bapt. 

n.  Nov.  1694.  &  Deborah  23  July  1699.     F.  Par  Rec. 

ENSIGN.  SAMUEL  i.  s.  of  George  Squire   i.  m d.  of .     Their  children,  were:  Joseph. 

John,  Samuel  &  Sarah,  all  bapt.  16.  April  1704  ;   Rebecca  17.  June  1705, — Benjamin  15  June  1707, 
F.  Par.  Rec. 

GEORGE  3.  s.    of  George  Squire  2.  was  bapt.  5.  June  1709;  He  m. d.  of .     Their 

children  were:  George  bapt.  6  Dec.  1702  ;  Daniel,  30  Jan.  17031  ;  Ephraim  6.  May  1705  ;  Bethyah 
20.  Oct.  1706  ;  Jane  9.  May  1708.  Jane  again  16.  Oct.  1709.  F.  Par  Rec. 

JOSEPH  s.  of  Samuel    Squire    I.    m. .  d  .  of .  d  .  of .      Their  children  were  :   Sarah 

bapt.  8.  Jan.  TJ151'  ;  Abigail  20.  Jan.  i^iG11  ;  Joseph  18  May  1718.      F.  Par  Rec. 

SERGT.  JOHN,  s.  of  of  Samuel  Squire  i.  m. .  d.  of .   There  children  were  :  Ebenezer 

bapt.  30.  Nov.  1718;  David  26.  June  1720;  Benjamin  i.  July  1722;  Hannah  20,  Feb.  1725^; 
Elizabeth  16.  June  1728  ;  Nathan  28.  Feb.  i73O3i.  F.  Par  Rec. 

JONATHAN  2.    s.   of    Jonathan  Squire   I.   m. .  d.     of .   They  had  as.  Jonathan  b.  27. 

Sept.  1713,  &  perhaps  had  other  children.      F.  Par  Rec. 

The  Squire  family  were  among  the  leading  men  of  the  town  of  F.  &  from  George  Squire  i.  are 
to  be  found  professional,  military  &  business  men  of  position  &  trust  throughout  the  country. 

STAPLES 

THOMAS  STAPLES  was  one  of  the  first  five  settlers  of  F.,  &  a  freeman  in  1669,  with  others  who 
had  been  long  at  F.  By  wife  Mary  he  had  children  Thomas  &  John  &d.  Mary,  who  was  the  2.  wife 
of  Josiah  Harvey;  Hannah,  who  m.  John  Beach;  &  Mehitable  whom,  probably  Jonathan  Fanton. 
He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  energy  of  character,  &  of  importance  in  the  town  of  F.  He  resided 
on  the  s.  w.  side  of  the  Ludlow  square.  He  was  a  large  land  holder,  &  d.  before  1688.  His  wid. 
Mary  Staples'  will  is  dated  1696,  in  which  she  mentions  sons  Thomas  &  John  ;  Mary  w.  of  Josiah 
Harvey  ;  Hannah  w.  of  John  Beach,  grand-child  Hannah  Harvey,  grand-child  Mehitable  Fanton  ; 
her  loving  friend  Mary  Slawson,  &  leaves  a  book  to  Abraham  Gold  by  Dr.  Preston. 

JOHN  STAPLES  i.  m. d.  of .  Their  children  were:  Thomas  ;  Abigail  ;  Michael  & 

Hezekiah,  all  bapt.  28.  July  1695  ;  Hannah  14.  Feb.  1696/7  ;  John  i5.  Nov.  1701  ;  Demaris  & 
Eunice  21.  May  1704  ,  Phebe  16.  March  1706^. 

THOMAS  2.  s.  of  Thomas  Staples  I.  m.  Deborah,  d.  of .  Their  children  were  :  Thomas 

bapt.  14.  Sept.  1701  ;  Samuel  30.  May  1708. 

THOMAS  STAPLES  3.  m.  Deborah,  d.  of .  Their  children  were  :  Thomas  b.  14.  Dec.  1735; 

Mary  5.  July  1738  ;  Ruhamah  17,  June  1739  !  Samuel  6.  March  17401  ;  Mary  24  Oct.  1742. 

The  Staples  family  appears  to  have  largely  settled  at  Greens  Farms  &  Westport.  Among 
the  representatives  of  this  name  at  Westport,  is  the  aged  Hon  Horace  Staples,  president  of  the  First 
Nat.  Bank,  &  the  liberal  founder  of  the  Staples  Academy. 

STURGES 

JOHN  STURGES,  i;  sometimes  spelled  Scurge  &  Sturgee  in  the  T.  Rec.,  settled  at  F.  in  1660  in 
the  37  year  of  his  age  ;  &  purchased  Richard  Fowles  homestead  ;  was  made  a  freeman  14.  May  1669  ; 


GENEALOGIES  413 

appointed  select  man  the  same  year,  &  owned  a  large  estate  at  F.  His  will  is  <intcd  4,  March 
i6g78,  in  which  he  gives  to  his  s.  Jonathan  his  homestead,  his  sword  &  various  parcels  of  land  ;  to 
s.  Joseph  his  fowling-piece,  long-gun  &  various  parcels  of  land  ;  to  s.  John  his  little  gun  ;  to  d. 
Deborah  w.  of  James  Rcdlield,  several  parcels  of  land,  &  his  negro  woman  Jenny  ;  to  liis  grand-son 
Christopher  Sturgis  5,^" ;  to  his  son-in-law  Richard  Straten  5s,  &  to  said  Straten's  five  children  by 
his  d.  Sarah  $£,  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  out  of  his  moveable  estate  ;  tod.  Abigail  w. 
of  Simon  Couch  his  negro  boy  Jack.  The  rest  of  his  moveable  estate,  he  divided  between  his  two 
dau's  ;  Deborah  &  Abigail.  To  his  absent  s.  Thomas,  "  if  he  ever  returned  again  "  he  gave  (x>£. 
out  of  the  rest  of  his  children's  property.  He  had  previously  given  his  sons  various  parcels  of  land 
in  the  town.  His  first  residence  appears  to  have  been  on  the  n.  w.  side  of  the  highway,  k-ading 
into  Millplain.  He  m.  Deborah,  d.  of  John  Barlow.  He  appears  from  a  T.  Rue.  to  have  been 
the  father-in-law  of  Benjamin  Seeley,  but  no  mention  is  made  of  this  dau.  in  his  will. 

Jonathan  i.  s.  of  John  Sturgis  I.  (b.  in  1650)  m.  Susannah  d.  of  John  Banks  i.  He  died  29. 
Nov.  1711,  leaving  a  son  Jonathan. 

JONATHAN  2.  s.  of  Jonathan  Sturgis  I.,  m.  Sarah  d.  of  David  Osborn  of  Eastcrchester,  31.  July 
1692  (s.  of  Capt.  Richard  Osborn  I.  of  F. )  Their  children  were  :  Jonathan  b.  1679.  David  b.  7  Jan 
1695  ;  Sarah  22  Dec  1701  ;  Abigail  8.  Sept  1704  ;  Eunice  4.  Jan  1709.  Jonathan  Sturgis  the 
father  died,  &  his  widow  Sarah  m.  Judge  Peter  Burr  of  F. 

JOSEPH  i.  s.  of  John  Sturges  I.,  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Joseph  Beers.  Their  children  were  Chris- 
topher ;  Joseph,  David  &  Jeremiah,  all  bapt.  24  May  1696.  Solomon  15,  May  1698  ;  Sarah  10.  March 
1699' 10°;  Esther  2.  March  1700'  ;  Abigail  14.  June  1702;  Jane  12.  March  1703*;  Deborah  I 
June  1708  ;  Benjamins.  Feb  i7Oglfl.  In  his  will  he  mentions  second  wife  Mary  ;  d.  Esther  Lines; 
d.  Abigail  Osborn  ;  d.  Sarah  Sherman,  &  grand-child  Mary  Dimon. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Sturgis  i.  m.  Mary  d.  of  George  Goodwin  of  F.,  &  pur.  in  1682  of  the  heirs 
of  said  Goodwin,  his  homestead  on  the  high-way  leading  to  Mill  Plain.  Their  children  were  Benja- 
min b.  30.  Dec  1694  ;  Ebenezer  23.  May  1697  ;  Dorothy  28.  Sept  1701  ;  Eleazer  30.  Oct.  1703; 
John  3.  March  1705°-;  Elizabeth  29.  Aug  1708  ;  Elnathan  5.  Feb  1710' -'•„  In  his  will  he  mentions 
second  wife  Abigail,  &  d.  Abigail,  His  d.  Margery  m.  Christopher  Godfrey.  In  a  deed  2.  May 
1729,  he  gives  to  his  son-in-law's  Christopher  Godfrey  2.  Francis  Bradley  2.  &  David  Williams,  all 
his  right  in  the  long-lots,  left  him  by  his  honored  father  John  Sturgis,  &  his  father-in-law  George 
Goodwin,  lying  above  the  Aspetuck  river,  except  what  he  had  already  given  his  sons  Benjamin  & 
Ebenezer.  Benjamin  Seeley  who  settled  in  East  Hampton  L.  I.  appears  to  have  m.  one  of  his 
dau's. 

PETER  probably  a  grand-son  of  John  I.  m.  Hannah  d.  of  Joshua  Jennings.  Their  children 
were  Samuel,  Jonathan  &  Hannah  bapt.  16.  Sept.  1716  ;  David  6  Feb.  1718''';  Grace  S.  March 
1723^;  Sarah  15.  May  1726  ;  Abigail  21.  July  1728  ;  Anne  25.  April  1731  ;  Ellen  2r  March  1735. 

DAVID  s.  of  Joseph  Sturgis  i.,  m.  -  —  d.  of—  Their  children  were  Nchcmiah,  bapt.  £. 
March  1718' °;  Elizabeth,  6.  March  I7I9'10;  Elizabeth,  again  5.  March  7720- ':  The  father  died 
probably  about  this  time,  as  another  d.  Mary  was  bapt.  by  her  mother.  7.  March  I734\ 

CHRISTOPHER  s.  of  Joseph  Sturgis  2.,  m. d.  of &  settled  at  Greens  Farms  near  the 

Green.  Their  children  were  Nathan  bapt.  8.  Oct  1710  ;  Joseph  5.  Oct  1712  ;  Christopher  4.  Sept. 
1715.  &  probably  others. 

Jonathan  Sturgis  3.  m.  Jerushia  Thompson,  d.  of  John  Thompson  2.  &  Sarah  Gold  d.  of 
Major  Nathan  Gold.  Their  daughter  Sarah  m.  Ebenezer  Wakeman  June  24.  1724.  They  had  a 
s.  Ebenezer  b.  26.  June  1725.  Ebenezer  the  father  died  25,  Sept.  1726  aged  27  years.  His  wid. 
Sarah  m.  Lothrop  Lewis  26.  July  1727,  &  their  youngest  daughter  Deborah,  m.  Judge  Jonathan 
Sturgis  Oct.  26.  1760,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  ;  &  the  grandfather  of  the  late  Jonathan  Sturgis  of  Mill  Plain. 


414  HISTORY    OF   FAIRFIELD 

THOMPSON 

JOHN  THOMPSON,  who  settled  at  Fequonnock,  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Thomas  Sherwood  I.  He 
died  in  1658.  His  children  were  Elizabeth  aged  13  ;  Mary  8  ;  John  6  ;  &  Hester  3.  His  widow 

Elizabeth  entered  into  a  covenant  of  marriage  with  Daniel  Finch  25  1657.  Hester  Thompson 

his  d.  m.  Samuel  Judson  of  Stratford.  F.  T.  &  Prob.  Rec. 

JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Thompson  i.  m.  Sarah  d.  of  Major  Nathan  Gold  25.  April  1684.  Their 
children  were  Jcrushia,  b.  n.  May  1685  ;  John,  21.  Feb.  1686"-  :  Sarah,  4.  Oct.  1689.  F.  T. 
Rec.  David  bapt.  3.  May  160.6.  F.  Par.  Rec.  Jerushia,  m.  Jonathan  Sturges  of  F. 

DAVID  i  s.  of  John  Thompson  2.  m.  —  —  d.  of Their  children  were  David  bapt. 

19.  March  I72O2J-  ;  David  again,  12.  May  1723  ;  &  Sarah  24.  May  1724.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

TREADWELL 

SAMUEL  TREADWELL  was  made  a  freeman  of  F.  in  1670.  In  1673,  he  recorded  from  the 
town,  a  pasture  &  building  lot  at  Pequonnock  of  14  acres.  He  m.  Martha  d.  of  -  — .  Their 
children  were  Samuel  ;  Edward  ;  John  b.  u.  Feb.  1674  ;  Ruth  20.  Jan  1679  who  m.  Robert 
Silliman  2.  20.  Oct.  1715  ;  &  Ephraim  7.  March  1681  :  F.  T.  Rec. 

EDWARD  s.  of  Samuel  Treadwell  i.  was  in  1695  a  member  of  Christ's  Church  Pequonnock. 
He  m.  Mary  d.  of .  Their  children  were. 

JOHN  i.  s.  of  Samuel  Treadwell  i.  also  lived  at  Pequonnock. 

SAMUEL  2.  s.  of  Samuel  Treadwell  i.  settled  at  Pequonnock  &  m.  Martha  d.  of . 

TURNEY 

BENJAMTN  TURNEY  I.  was  first  at  Concord,  Mass,  where  the  birth  of  three  children  were 
recorded,  namely — Rebecca  b.  16.  Feb.  1640;  Sarah  n.  Dec.  1641  ;  &  Ruth  28.  Jan.  1644.  He- 
was  made  a  freeman  2.  June  1641  ;  removed  to  Fairfield  soon  after,  &  there  had  s.  Benjamin  & 
other  children.  He  died  in  1648.  His  inventory  was  made  6.  June  1648  at  which  time  the  record 
of  his  children  were,  Mary  17  years  old  ;  Robert  15  ;  Judith  13  ;  Ann  n  ;  Rebecca  8  ;  Sarah  6  ; 
Ruth  4  ;  Benjamin  3.  Savage  says  that  his  widow  Mary,  who  was  probably  the  mother  of  all  his 
children,  m.  Joseph  Middlebrook,  who  had  also  removed  from  Concord  to  Fairfield.  His 
daughter  Mary,  m.  Nathaniel  Seely  &  Rebecca  m.  Stephen  Sherwood  of  Greenwich.  The  older 
children  were  probably  born  in  England. 

CAPT.  ROBERT  i.,  eldest  s.  of  Benjamin  Turney  i.,  settled  at  Pequonnock,  &  purchased  of 
Henry  Jackson  24.  Dec.  1673,  the  home-lots  of  Thomas  Wheeler  Sr.  &  Thomas  Wheeler  jr. 
By  his  will,  dated  31.  Dec.  1689,  he  gives  to  his  s.  Benjamin  his  house  &  home  lot,  formerly  John 
Wheeler's,  lying  between  James  Beer's  and  John  Thompson's  home-lot,  i  of  his  long-lot  &  I  of 
his  perpetual  common,  other  lands  &  his  best  sword  &  belt,  when  said  Benjamin  became  20  years 
of  age.  To  s.  Robert  his  two  home-lots  at  F.  lying  between  Mr.  William  Hill's  dec.,  &  in  the 
rear  of  Samuel  Grumman 's  lot,  i  of  his  long-lot  &  the  other  half  of  his  perpetual  common,  with 
other  lands.  To  wife  Elizabeth,  during  her  widowhood,  the  s.  e.  end  of  his  dwelling  house  & 
cellar,  &  'j  of  his  movable  estate  ;  the  other  end  of  his  dwelling  house  he  gave  to  his  s.  Benjamin. 
To  Joseph  Jennings  15s  in  right  of  his  wife  ;  5s  to  Ephraim  Wheeler  in  right  of  his  dec.  wife  ;  To 
d's  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Ruth,  Martha,  &  Rebecca,  minors,  all  the  rest  of  his  movable  estate,  & 
dividend  lands  at  Compo,  Paul's  Neck,  &  Reed  Ponds.  He  appointed  his  brother  in-law  Samuel 
Wilson  of  Fairfield  his  sole  executor  ;  his  loving  brethren  Sergt.  John  Wheeler  &  Benjamin  Turney 
to  be  the  over-seers  of  his  estate.  He  d.  soon  after,  &  his  inventory  was  probated  17.  Jan  1690. 
The  F.  T.  Rec.  give  the  following  births  of  his  four  daughters,  Abigail  b.  25.  Feb.  1661  ;  Sarah 
25.  Sept.  1663  ;  Elizabeth  15.  July  1668  ;  Rebecca  10.  July  1671. 

BENJAMIN  2.  s.  of  Benjamin  Turney  i.  of  F.,  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  Ralph  Keeler  of  Nonvalk, 
16.  Nov  1671.  He  d.  about  1694.  Their  children  were.  Benjamin  b.  3.  Sept  1672  ;  Robert  6. 


•  GENEALOGIES  415 

March,  1673/4  ',  Rebecca  16.  Oct.  1676  :  Thomas  5.  Jan.  1678/9,  &  others.  In  the  F.  T.  Rec. 
after  the  father's  death,  the  following  children  were  mentioned,  Benjamin  aged  22  ;  Robert  20  ; 
Rebecca  18  ;  Thomas  &  Sarah  15  ;  Jemima  8  ;  &  Jonathan  4.  These  children  were  not  baptised 
until  27.  Jan.  1694/5,  all  at  the  same  time.  F.  Par.  Rec. 

The  descendants  of  Benjamin  Turney  I.  to  the  present  time,  occupy  the  land  at  Paul's  Xeck  & 
Concord-field,  which  the  town  granted  him,  &  which  he  willed  to  his  s.  Capt.  Robert  Turney  i . 

Concerning  the  Wakeley  family  of  Conn. 

Compiled  from  the  town  records  of  Stratford,  and  probate  records  of  Fairfield,  Conn.,  by  G. 
M.  Bartholomew  of  Austin.  Texas. 

Name  often  spelled  Wakelin,  Weaklin,  Weakley,  Wakelee,  etc. 

Richard  Wakeley,  with  Henry,  James  £  Alice,  his  children,*  was  in  Hartford  in  1640.  Free- 
man in  Haddam  in  1669  and  died  there  in  1681.  His  will  made  that  year  mentions 

Children — 2.  Henry,  3.  James,  4.  Alice,  mentioned  in  Hartford  court  records  in  1663  ;  died 
in  1683. 

2.  Henry. 

Henry  Wakeley,  son  of  Richard  (i).  born  in  England.  First  lawyer  of  record  in  Hartford. 
Had  two  lots  there  in  1639.  Removed  to  Stratford  ;  where  widow  Elizabeth  Curtiss  in  1658  names 
him  as  an  executor  of  her  will.  Land  was  granted  to  him  there  before  1663,  May  16,  1669,  and 
May  12,  1681  the  General  Assembly  of  Conn.,  granted  him  several  hundred  acres  of  land  "for 
services  done  by  him  in  &  about  Mattebeseck,  &  for  some  damage  he  received  thereby,"  and  also  to 
settle  differences  between  him  and  Middletown.  Represented  his  brother  James,  as  his  Attorney 

in  his  trouble  with  the  General  Court.  He  married  Sarah .  She  was  possibly  daughter  of  \V™ 

Crocker  of  Stratford,  whose  land  was,  after  his  death  (before  1663)  confirmed  by  deed  of  ''pur- 
chase &  gift  "  to  him — Henry  Wakeley — by  widow  Crooker  &  Isaac  Nichols 

He  died  in  1690  ;  mentioning  in  will  of  July  ir,  1689  besides  widow  &  below  named  children, 
also  Tho's  Lattin,  &  Eliz1?  Squiers  as  heirs,  &  Henry  Stevens  "  who  lives  with  me."  Widow  Sarah 
was  still  living  Oct.  15,  1709.  Children — 5.  Deliverance,  6.  James,  7.  Jacob.  8.  Patience,  m. 
Timothy  Titharton,  Oct.  3,  1692  ;  9.  Abigail,  10.  Mary,  m.  Henry  Stevens  bef.  1689. 

3.  James. 

James  Wakeley,  son  of  Richard  (i)  b.  in  Eng.  Removed  from  Hartford  to  Wethersfield. 
The  General  Court  Feb'y  23,  1652,  judged  the  Deputies  action  in  marrying  James  Wakeley  and 
widow  Boosy  to  be  illegal.  She  sued  for  breach  of  promise.  The  matter  seems  to  have  been 
amicably  settled,  as  he  afterwards  mentions  her  as  his  wife.  She  was  the  widow  of  James  Boosy 
a  very  prominent  member  of  the  Gen'l  Assembly,  in  which  he  represented  Wethersfield  nearly 
every  session  until  his  death. 

He  left  the  Colony  in  1666,  and  lived  in  Rhode  Island. 

A  recognizance  for  his  appearance  before  the  Court  assistants  being  forfeited,  his  house  &  lands 
were  taken  to  satisfy  it.  In  1673  &  1681  he  petitioned  for  abatement  of  the  forfeiture,  but  without 
success.  Mentioned  as  weaver  in  Providence  R.  I.,  where  he  deeds  his  wife  Alice,  certain  portions 

of  his  property. 

5.  Deliverance. 

Deliverance,  son  of  Henry  (2),  born  prob.  in  Stratford,  m.  Hannah  Nash,  Dec.  3.  1678. 
Lived  in  Stratford,  dying  there  Nov.  6,  1707.  His  will  Oct.  15,  1707,  mentions:  Widow,  his 
mother,  daughters  Sarah  and  Mary  &  Mary  Summers  "who  has  long  lived  with  me." 

His  widow  m.  2d  Tho's  Witchem.  Joseph  Burritt  and  Nath'l  Curtiss,  May  8,  1722,  acknowl- 
edge receipt  of  all  lands  due  them  as  his  heirs. 

•:  Authority  Hinman. 


41 6  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Children — u.  Ebenezer,  died  Mar  27,  1683  ;  12.  Hannah,  died  Aug.  1683  ;  13.  Henry  & 
14.  Sarah  (m.  ?  Nath'l  Curtiss  ?)  Twins  born  Dec.  i,  1683.  Henry  died  Dec.  7,  1683  ;  15.  Mary, 
b.  March  3,  1688-9,  m-  Joseph  Burritt  Nov.  25,  1708. 

6.  James. 

James  Wakelcy,  son  of  Henry  (2).  m.  Ist  possibly  a  dau.  of  Chas.  Chauncey  of  Stratford.  2'1 
Hannah  dau.  of  Hugh  Griffin  &  wife  Dorothy  dau.  of  Thos.  Skidmore.  Feb'y  26,  1701-2.  Lived 
in  Stratford.  Joined  the  Episcopal  Church  June  4,  1724  ;  and  was  made  one  of  its  Vestrymen  the 
same  year. 

In  1713  he  sold  one  half  of  the  land  granted  his  father  Henry  by  the  Gen'l  Assembly. 

Children — 16.  James,  b.  Dec.  28,  1688-9  ;  17.  Henry,  b.  May  15,  1691  ;  18.  Joseph,  19.  Israel, 
20.  Nathaniel,  21  Hannah,  m.  Nehemiah  Allyn  of  Litchfield,  May  30,  1728  ;  22.  Dinah,  m.  Daniel 
Curtiss,  Nov.  26,  1719  ;  23.  Abigail. 

7.  Jacob. 

Jacob  Wakeley,  son  Henry  (2);  m.  Hannah  Peat      Lived  in  Stratford. 

Children — 24.  Jacob,  b.  Feb'y  10,  1676  7  ;  25.  Jonithan,  Feb'y  19,  1678-9  ;  26.  Ruth,  Aug. 
27,  1681  ;  27.  Henry,  Jan.  27,  1683  ;  28.  Joseph,  Sep.  17,  1686  ;  29.  Israel,  Feb'y  24,  1689  ;  30. 
Nathaniel. 

16.  James. 

James  Wakeley,  son  of  James  (6).  b.  in  Stratford  Dec.  28,  1688-9  !  m-  Sarah  dau.  of  Daniel 
Shelton  &  wife  Elizabeth  Wells,  dau.  of  Sam'l  &  granddau.  of  Gov.  Thos.  Wells  Lived  in  that 
part  of  Stratford  since  made  the  town  of  Huntington.  An  original  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  of  Stratford  Dec.  9,  1722,  made  a  Vestryman  in  1729.  Children — Baptized — Sarah,  Nov.  i, 
1722  ;  Hannah,  Sept.  27,  1723  ;  Martha,  Jan.  30,  1728;  Abigail,  Dec.  20,  1730  ;  m.  Nathan  Shel- 
ton. (Their  dau.  Martha  m.  her  2d  cousin  Isaac  Wells  Shelton,  &  his  dau.  Charity,  wife  of  Asa 
Bartholomew,  was  descended  by  three  different  lines  from  her  great-grandfather  Daniel  Shelton, 
the  emigrant.)  James,  Feb'y  n,  1733  ;  Charity,  Aug.  n,  1734. 

1 8.  Joseph. 

Joseph  Wakeley,  son  of  James  (6)  ;  m.  Elizabeth  Clark,  April  24.  1723: 
Children — Zebulon,  m.  Tabetha ;  Samuel. 

rg.   Israel. 

Israel  Wakeley,  son  of  James  (6) : 
Children — Israel,  Deliverance,  Ichabod  &  Thomas. 

25.  Jonithan. 
Jonithan  Wakeley,  son  of  Jacob  (7):  b.  Feby  10.  1676-7  ;  d.  in  1742. 

Children — Jonithan,   Jacob,  Ebenezer,  m.  Jemima ;    David,  m.  Abigail  Hull ;  Mary,  rn. 

Bennett  ;  Anne,  m.  Treadwell  ;  Prudence,  m.  Edwards. 


27*  Henry. 

Henry  Wakeley,  son  of  Jacob  (7)  ;  b.  Jan.  27,  1683  ;  m.  Ist  Rachel  Stratton,  Dec.  12,  1706  ; 
she  dying  March  10,  1707-8.  He  in.  2d  Sarah  Frost,  Jan.  26,  1710-11.- 

Children — By  Ist  m.:  Abigail  b.  Feb.  29,  1707-8  ;  m.  Thos.  Daskum  ;  by  2d  m.,  Elizabeth 
b.  May  9.  1712  ;  Abel,  Jan.  16,  1714-15  ;  Eunice,  Nov.  n,  1717  ;  Henry?,  Abner  Mar.  23,  1723. 

*  Nos.  22  &  23  may  possibly  have  been  dau's  of  Jacob  (7)— Also  No.  27  may  have  been  a  little  mixed  with  No.  17. 


GENEALOGIES  417 

WAKEMAN 

The  Wakman  or  Wakeman  family  were  conspicuous  men  in  the  colonies  of  Massachusetts, 
New  Haven  &  Connecticut.  John  Wakeman,  probably  son  of  Samuel  of  Hartford,  was  the 
treasurer  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  in  1656,  &  died  at  Hartford  in  1661.  Elizabeth,  his  d.  m. 
Samuel  Kitchell  of  Newark,  N.  J:  another  d.  m.  John  Talcott  jr.  of  Hartford.  The  name  of 
Talcott  Wakeman  is  still  known,  &  honored  in  F.  The  will  of  John  Wakeman  is  a  singular  docu- 
ment. After  a  grateful  acknowledgment  to  his  Maker  that  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy  the  Con- 
gregational way  of  worship,  he  adds  :  "  but  I  do  testify  against  absolute  independency  of  churches, 
&  perfection  of  any  in  light  or  actings,  &  against  compulsion  of  conscience  to  concur  with  the 
church,  without  inward  satisfaction  to  conscience  ;  &  persecuting  such  as  dissent  upon  this  ground, 
which  I  take  to  be  an  abuse  of  the  power  given  for  edification  by  Christ,  who  is  only  Lord  of  the 
conscience  "  * 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman,  son  of  the  above  John  Wakeman,  was  educated  at  Harvard 
College.  He  probably  officiated  in  the  ministry  at  Fairfield  during  the  last  days  of  the  Rev.  John 
Jones,  &  after  the  death  of  the  latter,  became  the  minister  of  the  parish.  He  probably  taught 
school  in  Fairfield  or  Pequonnock,  &  appears  first  to  have  lived  at  Pequonnock,  having  in  1663  pur- 
chased Thomas  Wheeler's  home-lot  there.  He  afterwards  purchased  Dr.  Thomas  Pell's  house  & 
lot,  on  the  Newton  Square,  in  which  he  resided  for  many  years  with  his  family.  On  the  19.  of 
Jan  1682,  he  purchased  of  Jacob  Gray  William  Frost's  homestead,  for  his  son  Capt.  Samuel 
Wakeman.  He  m.  Hannah  d.  of  Stephen  Goodyear  of  New  Haven,  Oct  29,  1656,  by  whom  he 
had  five  sons,  Samuel,  Ebenezer,  John,  Joseph  &  Jabcz,  &  three  daughters.  Ann,  Elizabeth  & 
Mar}'.  In  his  will  dated  S.  March  1692  ;  he  gives  an  Indian  girl  Jane  her  freedom,  when  she 
arrives  at  the  age  of  twenty  one  ;  £3.  in  money  to  the  treasury  at  Hartford,  to  be  expended  by 
Mr.  Jehu  Burr  in  two  silver  bowls  or  cups,  one  of  which  was  to  be  given  to  Christ  church  Fair- 
field,  &  the  other  to  the  society  of  Fairfield  Village.  He  also  left  ,£3.  towards  a  Grammar 
School  at  F. ;  &  to  each  of  his  children  a  Bible.  He  left  a  large  landed  estate,  much  of  which  has 
remained  among  his  descendants  to  the  present  day.  Andrew  Wakeman  of  F.,  is  the  present 
occupant  of  some  of  this  land  at  Round  Hill  &  Barlow's  Plain.  Mr  Wakeman  also  owned  land 
at  Green's  Farms  &  Compo,  upon  which  his  children  &  grandchildren  settled.  His  widow  Mrs 
Hannah  Wakeman  left  an  estate  of  over  900  £.  ;  which  was  a  very  large  fortune  for  those  days. 

Samuel  Wakeman,  the  oldest  son,  by  a  deed  of  gift  from  his  father  6.  Nov.  1686,  lived  in 
the  home  of  \Vm  Frost  sr.  on  the  Frost  Square.  He  first  m.  Mary  d.  of  Jehu  Burr  jr.  who  died 
leaving  one  child  named  Mary,  who  m.  Samuel  Hubbel  jr.  of  F.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  d. 
of  Josiah  Knowles  of  F.  He  died  one  year  before  his  father,  &  his  widow  Sarah  m.  Dougal  Mac 
Kensie  of  F. 

Capt.  John  Wakeman  m.  Martha  d.  of  Richard  Hubbel  of  Pequonnock  24.  April  1687. 
Their  children  were,  Eleanor,  b.  24.  Aug.  1689  ;  Ann  24.  March  1682  ;  Samuel  24.  Feb.  1693*; 
Elizabeth  i.  June  1695.  Anne  bapt.  17.  April  1698.  Martha  b.  24.  Sept.  1700  ;  Stephen  15. 
Oct.  1702  ;  John  29.  Aug.  1705. 

Lieut.  Joseph  Wakeman  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Maj.  John  Burr.     Their  children  were 

Ebenezer,  bapt.    12,   March,   1698/9 
Catherine,      "      21,   April,     1700 
Elizabeth.      "       19,  April,     1702 
Joseph,  "       14,   May,       1704 

Jabez,  10,   March,   1705  '6 

Samuel,  (s.  of  Capt.  Joseph)     "      30.  Jan.         1708  9 
Mary,  "      23,  July         1710 

Samuel,         "         I,   Nov.        1713 

*  New  Haven  Col.  Rec. 
27 


41 8  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Capt.  Joseph  Wakeman  willed  a  Sword  to  his  son  Joseph,  at  the  present  time  in  the  possession 
of  Andrew  Wakeman  Esq.  of  Fairfield. 

Rev.  Jabez  Wakeman  m.  Eunice  widow  of  Col.  Mathew  Howel  of  Southampton,  L.  I.  29. 
Sept.  1702.  His  widow  married  Governor  Joseph  Talcott  of  Hartford,*  26.  June  1706.  Col. 
Rec.  Conn.  4,  2f5. 

Ebenezer  died  young  leaving  his  estate  to  his  brothers  &  sisters. 

Ann  Wakeman  m.  Abraham  Howell  of  Southampton,  L.  I. — Elizabeth  m.  Mr.  Albert  Denny 
of  Fairfield. — Mary,  probably  m.  Nicholas  Clagstone  of  Fairfield,  as  this  name  is  given  in  the 
distribution  of  Ebenezer  Wakeman's  estate. 

The  children  of  Nicholas  &  Mary  Clagstone  of  F.  were 

John,     bapt.   23,  June,   1695. 
Samuel,      "     16,  Jan.      1696/7 
Mary,         "     18,  Sept.    1698. 

F.  Par.  Rec. 

Ezbon  Wakeman,  was  the  s.  of  Samuel  Wakeman  of  Hartford;  was  at  New  Haven  in  1653  ;• 
made  a  freeman  in    1669  ;  &  m.  i.  Apr.  1669  at   Guilford,  Hannah  Jordan.     He  pur.   7.  March 
1671  of  Isaac  Nichols,  the  Nichols  homestead  on  the  Frost  Square  at  F.     He  was  a  Lieut,  in  1681 
&  d.  in  1683,  leaving  an   only  child  Abigail,  who  m.    Thomas   Hill,  a  mariner.      His  widow  m. 
1685,  Joseph  Bastard  of  Boston. 

WARD 

ANDREW  WARD  was  first  in  Watertown,  Mass.  He  was  there  made  a  freeman  3.  March  1634. 
On  the  3.  of  March  1636,  he  was  appointed  with  Roger  Ludlow  &  six  others  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of 
Mass.,  to  govern  the  colony  of  Conn,  for  one  year.  He  was  therefore  one  of  the  assistants  or  judges 
of  the  first  legislative  body  held  in  Conn,  at  Newtown  or  Hartford,  on  the  26.  of  April  1636.  In 
1638,  he  was  appointed  with  Capt.  John  Mason  &  Mr  Allen  to  go  to  Agawam  or  Springfield,  "  to 
treat  with  the  Indians  of  Waronocke  concerning  the  tribute  towards  the  charges  of  the  Pequot 
war,  to  the  value  of  one  fathom  of  wampum  a  man,  &  also  to  the  Nawattocke  £  Pacomtuckett 
Indians  one  fathom  &  a  quarter  a  man."  He  removed  to  New  Haven  soon  after,  &  his  name  is 
there  found  among  the  free  planters  at  the  gathering  of  the  church  on  the  4.  of  June  1639.  On 
the  27.  of  Oct.  1641,  he  was  with  Francis  Bell  represented  at  Stamford  &  N.  H.,  &  both  were 
admitted  members  of  that  court,  &  received  the  charge  of  freeman.  At  a  Gen.  Ct.  held  at  New 
Haven  on  the  4.  of  March  1640,  Andrew  Ward  &  Robert  Coe  of  Weathersfielcl  were  appointed 
"to  treat  with  that  court  about  the  plantation  (lately  purchased  by  said  town)  called  Toquams,  or 
Stamford."  He  was  appointed  constable-of  Stamford  on  the  26.  of  March  1640.  At  the  assem- 
bling of  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  N.  H.  on  the  5.  of  April  1643,  his  letter  was  presented,  written  in  the 
name  of  the  freeholders,  introducing  Capt.  John  Underbill  &  Richard  Gildersleeve,  as  deputies  to 
that  court  from  Stamford  ;  at  the  same  time  requesting  that  a  magistrate  might  be  chosen,  for  the 
better  administration  of  the  prudential  affairs  of  that  town.  He,  with  Robert  Coe,  was  appointed 
to  assist  at  the  next  Gen.  Ct.  of  Election  at  New  Haven,  "  in  counsel  &  advice  for  the  more  comely 
carrying  on  of  public  affairs."  He  was  again  elected  one  of  the  deputies  from  Stamford  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  N.  H.  in  1644  &  in  1646.  He  may  have  gone,  as  Trumbull  &  Goodwin  think  to 
Hempstcad  L.  I.,  but  he  could  only  have  remained  there  a  short  time,  for,  on  the  6.  of  Oct.  1651, 

*  From  "A  Century  Sermon"  preached  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Macwharter,  the  pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  at  Newark,  N.  J.  in  1807,  he  makes  this  statement  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman's  son  Jabez  :  "  Mr. 
Jabez  Wakeman  was  the  fourth  minister  of  this  church,  who  was  settled  here  about  the  year  1701  ;  a  young  man 
of  very  distinguished  abilities  &  accomplishments,  &  a  remarkably  popular  preacher.  He  possessed  superior 
talents  for  the  pulpit.  Rut  to  the  great  affliction  of  the  town,  he  lived  only  about  three  years.  He  died  leaving 
a  most  admirable  character."  His  widow  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Mathew  Howel  of  Southampton,  L.  I.  She 
afterwards  married  Governor  Joseph  Talcott,  a  son  of  Lieut.  Col-  John  Talcott  of  Hartford. 


GENEALOGIES  419 

at  the  sitting  of  the  General  Court  at  Hartford,  he  was  appointed  with  John  Banks  of  Fairfield  to 
settle  the  estate  of  Peter  Johnson  of  F..  At  the  same  time  he,  with  George  Hull  &  \Villiam  Beards- 
ley  of  Stratford,  were  nominated  as  assistants,  "  to  join  with  the  magistrates  for  the  execution  of 
justice  in  the  towns  of  Conn,  by  the  sea-side."  About  1651.  he  purchased  Simon  Hoyt's  home-lot 
w.  of  Hyde's  pond,  which  he  sold  in  1653,  to  Edward  Adams  ;  &  purchased  from  Alexander  P.ryan 
the  same  year,  Thomas  Newton's  house  and  home-lot  on  the  Ludlow  Square.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  important,  &  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  Fairfield.  He  died  in  1665,  leaving  nine 
children,  viz.:  Edmund,  William,  Mary,  Andrew,  Samuel,  Abigail,  Ann,  John  &  Sarah.  His  d. 
Mary  m.  John  Burr  2.  .  Ann  m.  Caleb  Nichols  of  Stratford  ;  &  Sarah  m.  Nathanael  Burr.  His 
will  is  dated  3.  of  June  1659  &  prob.  at  Fairfield  "  drawn  by  his  own  hand,"  in  which,  as  is  stated 
in  said  will,  he  declares  himself  to  be  "  strong,  merry,  &  well  both  in  body  &  mind."  He  gave  to 
his  wife  Esther  £40  out  of  his  movable  estate,  &  the  use  of  one  third  of  his  lands  &  housing  in  F., 
during  her  widowhood  ;  to  his  s.  John  .£50  at  the  age  of  21  ;  to  d.  Sarah  (who  afterwards  m. 
Nathaniel  Burr)  £400,  within  one  year  of  her  m. ;  to  d.  Abigail  .£40,  at  the  age  of  18  ;  to  sons 
Andrew  &  Samuel,  housing  £  lands  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,  when  the  eldest  was  21, 
years  of  age.  All  the  rest  of  his  children,  he  states,  had  received  their  full  portion,  except  Ed- 
mund, who,  in  case  he  returned  home,  was  to  receive  £-20  out  of  Andrew  &  Samuel's  portions  (F. 
T.  &  Prob.  Rec.)  Of  John,  the  first  son  mentioned  in  this  will,  I  find  nothing  at  F.;  but  Savage 
thinks  he  was  probably  the  John  of  Middletown,  Ct.,  who  was  made  a  freeman  May  1667  at  Hart- 
ford ;  &  who  m.  iS  April  1664,  Mary  d.  of  William  Harris  of  Rawley.  Their  children  were  John 
b.  15.  Nov.  1665  ;  Andrew  i.  Dec.  1667  ;  Esther  15.  Dec.  1669  ;  Mary  —  Aug.  1672  ;  William  30. 
June  1674  ;  Samuel  in  1679 ;  &  another,  probably  posthumous,  who  died  an  infant.  Probably  he 
died  early  in  1684,  for  his  inventory  is  dated  22.  Feb.  of  that  year.  His  widow  m.  Josiah  Gilbert 
of  Weathersfield." — Savage's  Gen.  Die.  Of  Edmund  I  find  no  account. 

DR.  WILLIAM,  s.  of  Andrew  Ward  T.  settled  at  F.,  &  purchased  the  Perry  house  &  home-lot  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Pell's  heirs  on  the  Newton  Square,  next  adjoining  that  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wakeman's. 
He  was  a  physician,  and  was  appointed  by  the  Gen.  Ct.  of  Conn,  as  surgeon,  to  accompany  the  F. 
Co.  troops  in  their  expeditions  against  the  Narragansetts.  He  was  killed  during  the  war.  He  m. 

Esther  d.  of  &   left  one  only  child    Esther.     His   widow  Esther  m.  in  1678,  Ebenezer 

Hawley  of  Stratford.  Their  children  were  Elizabeth  Hawley  b.  8.  July  1879  !  &  William  Hawley 
b.  about  1680.  Ebenezer  the  father  died  in  1681.  Esther  his  wid.  next  m.  Sept.  1682  Ensign 
Ephraim  Nichols,  s.  of  Isaac  I.  of  Stratford,  who  occupied  her  first  husband's  Dr.  Ward's  home- 
stead on  the  Newton  Square.  Her  second  husband  died  in  1690.  Their  children  were  Ignatius 
Nichols  b.  17.  Dec.  1683  ;  Disborow  Nichols  I.  Jan  1685  ;  &  Esther  Nichols  18.  Dec.  1689.  F. 
T.  Rec. 

ESTHER  only  d.  of  Dr.  William  Ward  i.  m.  for  her  first  husband  Eliphalet  Hill  Nov.  1691  (she 
is  called  in  the  Town  Records,  "  Esther  Nichols  the  daughter  of  William  Ward  ;  ''  which  has  led 
Savage  to  state  that  her  mother  m.  Eliphalet  Hill.  Their  children  were  William  Hill  b.  17.  Nov 
1692  ;  &  Eliphalet  Hill  b.  n.  Jan  iC>()^.  Eliphalet,  the  father  died  in  1695.  (F.  T.  Rec.)  &  Esther 
his  wid.  next  m.  Robert  Lord.  Their  children  were  Mary  Lord  bapt.  21.  Aug  1698  ;  Abigail 
Lord  5.  April  1700  ;  Sarah  Lord  29.  March  1702  &  Robert  b.  —  — .  F.  Par.  Rec. 

AN'DREW  2.  s.  of  Andrew  Ward  I.  was  made  a  freeman  in  1668,  &  settled  at  Kenilworth,  Conn. 

He  m.  Trial  d.  of  John  Meiges  of  Guilford.     Their  children  were  Andrew  b. 1669  ;  John  16. 

March  1671;  Abigail  15.  Sept.  1672;  Sarah  15.  Nov.  1674;  Peter  14.  Oct.  1676;  William  18. 
Oct.  1678;  Samuel  24,  Sept  1680,  &  died  the  next  year;  Esther  2.  May  1684,  &  died  the  next 
month  ;  &  Mary  &  Ann.  Andrew  the  father  died  about  1691.  His  s.  William  died  in  Walling- 
ford.  Conn.  14.  Dec.  1769,  &  was  the  ancestor  of  Col.  James  Ward  of  Hartford.  Andrew  3.  s  of 
Andrew  2.  (Capt.)  m.  Deborah  d.  of  Jacob  Joy,  &  Elizabeth  d.  of  William  Williams  of  K.  He 
had  several  children,  &  died  Aug.  1756.  in  the  87.  year  of  his  age.  His  d.  Abigail  m.  Samuel 


420  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

Norton  of  Guilford  Ct.  25.  Jan.  1692'.     His  s.  Peter  m.  Mary  d.  of  Isaac  Joy  of  Kenilworth  30. 
March  1693,  &  had  six  children.     Goodwin's  Gen.  Notes. 

SAMUEL  I.,  s.  of  Andrew  Ward  i.  was  made  a  freeman  of  F.  1669.  He  m.  first  Alice  d.  of 
Richard  Ogden  i.,  &  Savage  says  for  second  wife  jjarmah  wid.  of -Jonathan  Judson  of  Stratford. 
He  died  hefore  1693,  leaving  w.  Hannah,  &  children  Edmund,  Samuel,  Hannah,  Sarah  &  perhaps 
others.  The  children  of  Hannah,  his  wid.  by  her  first  husband,  were  in  the  inventory  of  Jonathan 
Nichols'  estate  of  28.  Oct  1689,  Josiah  aged  7  ;  Mary  4  ;  &  Jonathan  2.  From  a  will  found  on 
file  in  the  town-house  at  F.  of  the  widow  of  John  Judson  of  Woodbury,  eldest  s.  of  Joseph  of 
Stratford,  she  mentions  children  Josiah,  Mary  &  Jonathan  Nichols  &  d.  Hannah  Ward.  The 
third  husband  of  wid.  Hannah,  may  have  been  John  Judson  of  Woodbury,  but  in  this  I  may  be 
mistaken. 

EDMUND  2.,  s.  of  Samuel  Ward  I.  m  —  —  d.  of  -  -  &  settled  at  Westchester.  In  A. 
of  F.  T.  D.  is  the  following  :  '*  Know  by  all  men  here  present  that  I.  Edmund  Ward,  belonging 
to  the  Manor  of  Fordham,  in  ye  county  of  Westchester,  in  ye  Province  of  New  York,  made  admin- 
istrator on  the  estate  of  my  honored  father  Samuel  Ward  of  the  town  of  Fairfield,  in  ye  colony  of 
Connecticut,  at  a  special  court  held  in  Fairfield  29.  March  i6923,  have  by  these  present  delivered 
over  unto  my  loving  brother  William  Ward,  for  his  legacy  of  lands  &  meadows  here-  under  written 
&c  ;  &c. 

28.  Dec.  1699  " Edmund  Ward. 

Recorded  July  19.  1700. 

The  Ward  family  seem  almost  to  have  entirely  left  F.  about  this  time.  The  following  mem- 
bers of  this  family  are  to  be  found  in  the  F.  Rec.  Moses  s.  of  -  —  Ward  m.  d.  of 

— .  Their  children  were  Samuel  bapt.  20.  June  1714  ;  Rebecca  i.  April  1716  ;  Sarah  12.  Jan. 
1717—  ;  Esther  20.  Dec.  1719  ;  Abigail  17.  Dec.  1721  ;  Moses  22.  Dec.  1723, 

It  is  from  the  Ward  family  of  Fairfield,  that  the  late  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  of  Brooklyn 
was  descended. 

WEBB 

REV.  JOSEPH  WEBB  entered  Harvard  College  in  1684.  He  was  called  to  the  ministry  of 
Christs  Church  F.  in  Aug  1692,  witli  the  offer  of  a  salary  of  go£,  &  the  use  of  the  parsonage  lands. 
He  accepted  the  call,  &  Jonathan  Morehouse  &  Samuel  Squire  were  appt.  to  remove  his  family  & 
effects  to  F.  It  is  recorded  in  B.  of  T.  Votes  :  "  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Joseph  Webb 
&  his  family,  came  to  Fairfield  on  Thursday  at  night,  being  ye  13th  of  October  1692."  On  the  2oof 
Jan.  1693  a  tax  of  two  pence  on  the  £.  was  laid  upon  the  townsmen  towards  collecting  his  salary  ; 
&  on  the  23  of  March  following  "  the  town  declared  that  they  would  give  Mr.  Webb  the  house 
called  the  school  house,  &  the  land  it  stands  upon  from  the  rear  of  Barlows  lot,  &  west  to  Capt. 
Samuel  Wakeman's  land,  &  so  much  land  on  the  south  side  as  would  take  in  the  well,  &  the  land 
eastward  4  rods,  &  so  down  to  the  east  end  of  Barlow's  lot,  forever.  The  six  acre  lot  of  Thomas 
Barlow  was  afterwards  purchased  of  the  heirs,  &  added  to  Mr.  Webbs  home-lot. 

The  REV.  JOSEPH  WEBB  was  m.'to.Elizabeth,  the  youngest  d.  of  Isaac  Nichols  of  Stratford  (b. 
2  April  1668)  by  the  Rev.  Wm  Curtis  8.  July  1691.  Their  children  were  :  Joseph  b.  21  Sept.  1693  ; 
Nehemiah  26.  Feb  1695  ;  Elizabeth  14.  Feb  1696  >  ;  Mary  10.  March  1697  s  ;  Grace  3.  Dec.  1700; 
Sarah  30.  Jan  I7O3/4  ;  Abigail  5.  March  1704/5  ;  Josiah  13.  March  1706  T.  His  wife  Elizabeth 
died  15.  Feb.  1718  (F.  T.  Rec.);  &  on  the  21.  Sept.  1721  he  m.  Mrs.  Mehitable  Coney  of  Strat- 
ford (Strat  Par.  Rec).  He  died  19  Sept.  1732.  leaving  a  large  estate,  which  after  his  widow 
received  her  dower,  was  divided  between  his  children.  He  had  previously  given  "  200  acres,  lying 
in  the  Parish  of  Redding  "to  his  son  Joseph  as  a  part  of  his  portion.  Abigail  was  given  the 
homestead  &  land  adjoining  it,  in  which  Mrs.  Mehitable  Webb  was  given  a  life  dower.  Abigail 
sold  her  right  in  the  house  £  land  to  Benjamin  Wynecoop  26.  Dec.  1735,  &  m.  Archibald  Preston. 

Joseph  Webb  2.  m.  &  became  a  minister  at  Newark  N.  J. 


GENEALOGIES  421 

Elizabeth  Webb  m.  Rev.  Samuel  Pomeroy  of  Newton  L.  I.  Sarah  Webb  m.  Mr.  John  Denny 
of  F. 

"  Josiah  Webb  &  Susannah  Disbrow,  d.  of  Thomas  Disbrow  were  m.  Nov.  1729"  Their 
children  were,  Grace  b.  7.  March  1734  ;  Joseph  17.  March  1736  ;  Disbrow  3.  June  1738  ;  Nehemiah 
23.  Sept  1740  ;  Josiah  16.  April  1743  ;  Elizabeth  28.  April  1745  ;  Abigail  6.  June  1747  ;  Isaac  23. 
Aug.  1750  ;  Josiah  Webb  again  m.  Hannah  Sherwood  Oct.  1750.  Their  children  were  :  He/ekiah 
b.  18  Nov.  i752;Seth  1754. 

WHEELER         • 

Two  branches  of  the  Wheeler  family  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Pequonnock,  namely 
Thomas  Wheeler  sr. ,  Thomas  Wheeler  jr.,  brothers,  &  Ephraim  Wheeler  their  nephew.  Tradi- 
tion says  they  were  from  Wales. 

THOMAS  WHEELER  sr.  born  in  England,  was  early  at  Concord  ;  there  made  a  freeman  17. 
April  I&361,  &  early  removed  to  F.  His  home-lot  at  Pequonnock  of  2£  acres,  is  recorded  Jan. 
1649,  bounded  n.  e.  with  home-lot  of  Thomas  Wheeler  jr.,  n.  w.  James  Bennett's,  s.  e.  John 
Evart's  &  s.  w.  with  highway.  His  will  is  dated  23.  Aug.  1654,  in  which  he  mentions  wife  Ann, 
for  whom  he  amply  provides  ;  to  eldest  s.  Thomas,  who  lived  at  Concord,  Mass,  he  gave  his  home- 
lot,  &  all  land  divided,  or  undivided,  in  Concord,  &c.,  to  his  d.  Sarah,  wife  of  Thomas  Sherwood 
I  os  ,  &  to  her  son  Thomas  a  colt ;  to  his  four  grandchildren  Mary,  James,  Thomas  &  John  Rennet, 
children  of  his  dau.  Hannah,  then  dead,  &  James  Bennet  (who  m  his  d.  in  1639.)  IQS  eacn  '•  to  s- 
John,  his  sole  executor,  he  left  all  his  estate  at  F.,  reserving  his  wife  Ann's  right  in  his  house  & 
lands  left  for  her  use  at  Greenlea.  He  made  his  brother  Thomas  an  over-seer  of  his  will,  showing 
that  he  was  the  brother  of  Thomas  jr. ;  another  case  where  two  brothers  bore  the  same  Christian 
name.  His  widow  Ann  died  in  1659,  &  her  will  was  probated  21.  Aug.  following. 

THOMAS  WHEELER  jr.,  brother  of  the  above  Thomas  sr.,  settled  at  Pequonnock,  &  had  a 
home-lot  recorded  Jan.  1649,  bounded  n.  w.  by  highway;  n.  e.  Richard  Roots  &  Benjamin  Tur 
ney's  home-lots,  s.  w.  by  the  home-lots  of  Ephraim  Wheeler,  Thomas  Wheeler  sr.  &  James  Ben- 
nett. This  lot  was  sold  to  Henry  Jackson,  &  next  to  Robert  Turney  24.  Dec  1673  &  afterwards  to 
Richard  Hubbell,  in  whose  family  it  remained  for  many  years.  Of  this  Thomas  Wheeler  jr.  I 
know  no  more  ;  but  he  may  have  been  the  Thomas  of  Milford. 

CAPT.  THOMAS,  of  Concord  s.  of  Thomas  Wheeler  sr.  of  F.  born  in  England  ;  made  a  freeman 
of  Mass.  18,  May  1642,  m.  Ruth  d.  of  William  Wood,  &  had  dau.  Alice  who  died  17.  March  1641. 
By  second  wife  Sarah,  had  d.  Sarah  b.  10.  July  1749  ;  Joseph  18,  Aug.  1651 ;  Ann  20.  Dec.  1653  ; 
John  18.  Feb.  1656  ;  Mary  20.  Dec.  1658,  &  Thomas  29  March  1662.  He  was  a  Captain  in  King 
Philip's  War,  &  at  one  time  was  appointed  with  Capt.  Hutchinson  to  go  with  twenty  horsemen 
to  Quabuog,  to  treat  with  the  Nipmuck  Sachem.  The  party  was  surprised  by  the  Indians,  &  a 
number  of  them  slain.  Capt.  Hutchinson  was  mortally  wounded.  Capt.  Wheeler  was  also 
wounded  &  also  his  son,  a  lad  of  13  years  of  age.  He  &  the  surviving  troops  fled  to  the  town 
of  Brookfield,  where  they  made  a  log  house  their  strong  hold.  Others  joined  them  to  the  number 
of  eighty,  including  their  troops.  The  house  was  surrounded  with  Indians,  who  several  times 
attempted  to  burn  them  out,  but  the  bravery  of  Capt.  Wheeler's  men  thwarted  them  at  one  time. 
&  the  rain  extinguished  the  flames  at  another.  At  the  moment  the  Indians  were  about  to  make 
another  attack  to  destroy  them,  by  preparing  an  engine,  drawn  by  several  pairs  of  cart-wheels,  & 
loaded  with  combustible  materials  to  fire  the  garrison,  Capt.  Wheeler  was  relieved  at  ten  O, 'clock 
at  night,  by  a  flying  army  of  sixty  horse-men,  who  forced  their  way  through  the  Indians,  killing 
several,  and  wholly  routing  them.  "  During  the  time  these  people  kept  themselves  in  the  house, 
two  women  were  safely  delivered  of  two  sons  apiece,  who  in  a  month's  time  brought  them,  all 
themselves,  on  foot  to  Boston,  where  they  were  plentifully  relieved,  out  of  the  church  stock  there." 
(Drake's  Old  Indian  Chronicle.)  Capt.  Wheeler  wrote  a  narrative  which  has  been  re-published  by 
the  N.  H.  Historical  Society  in  Vol.  2.  He  died  16.  Dec.  1686,  leaving  widow  Hannah,  his  3"?  w., 


422  HISTORY   OF   FAIRFIELD 

&  son  Thomas,  to  administer  upon  his  estate,  by  power  from  Governor  Andros.  His  daughter 
Ruth  m.  7.  May  1673,  Ephraim  Jones  of  Concord.  Savage  Gen.  Die. 

SERGT  JOHN  i.  s.  of  Thomas  Wheeler  sr.,  accompanied  his  father  from  Concord  to  F.  He 
was  given  by  will  his  father's  lands  at  F. ;  but  had  previously  been  deeded  several  valuable  parcels 
of  land  by  him,  one  of  which  was  at  Greenlea,  near  the  Ship  Harbor.  The  town  granted  him  8. 
acres  in  1673,  at  Black  Rock,  bounded  e.  with  the  creek,  &  on  all  other  sides  with  his  own  land, 
which  confirms  the  account  of  William  Wheeler's  journal.  He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1669  ;  was 
granted  100  acres  by  the  Gen.  Ct.,  v*s  deputy  from  the  town  several  times.  He  died  intestate  in 
the  latter  part  of  1689  ;  &  on  the  5.  of  April  1690  the  court  at  F.  appointed  his  widow  &  his  s. 
John  to  administer  upon  his  estate,  which  amounted  1656^.  45  &  61?  .  He  m.  first  Judith  d.  of 
Benjamin  Turney,  &  may  have  had  a  second  wife.  He  had  fourteen  children,  thirteen  of  whom 
were  living  when  he  died,  whose  ages  are  mentioned  in  the  distribution  of  his  estate  in  1690,  as  fol- 
lows :  Judan  (probably  Judith)  29;  John  26  ;  Elizabeth  23  ;  Thomas  21  ;  Mary  19  ;  Rebecca  18  ; 
Joseph  16;  Hannah  14  ;  Abigail  10  ;  Obediah  8  ;  Anne  6  ;  Jonathan  3  ;  &  David  i. 

LIEUT  JOHN  2.  s.  of  John  Wheeler  i.,  first  m.  Elizabeth  d.  of  Henry  Rowland  i.  His  second 
wife  was  Abigail  d.  of  Nathaniel  Burr  i.,  whom  he  m.  22.  March  1693,  Their  children  were 
John  b.  20.  July  1694  ;  Sarah  n.  Feb.  I69&1;  Abigail  16.  Aug.  1698  ;  Mary  4.  Nov.  1701  ;  Eliza- 
beth 3.  April  1703;  Judith  Anne  bapt.  10.  March  17052.;  Mary  again  27.  Dec  1713  ;  Obadiah  15. 
April  1716. 

Several  of  the  sons  &  grand-sons  of  Thomas  Wheeler  sr.,  settled  on  the  long-lots  of  the 
family  in  Easton,  &  on  the  dividend  lands  of  Compo,  or  Westport,  Black  Rock  &  Pequoimock. 

SERGT.  EPHRAIM  Wrheeler  i.,  a  nephew  of  the  first  two  Thomases,  was  made  a  freeman  at 
Concord,  Mass.  13.  March  1638.  Farmer  sayshe  hadason  Isaac  born  there  in  1639,  but  probably 
died  soon  after  ;  Isaac  again  13.  Dec.  1642.  He  moved  to  F.  with  the  Rev.  John  Jone's  company 
in  1644,  &  was  granted  a  home-lot  at  Pequonnock  of  3  acres,  bounded  n.  w.  &  s.  w.  with  highways, 
n.  e  with  home-lots  of  Thomas  Wheeler  jr  ;  .  s.  e.  with  home-lot  of  James  Bennet.  He  after- 
wards settled  at  Greenlea.  He  became  a  large  land-holder  in  F.  &  was  one  of  its  most  honored 
citizens.  He  m.  Ann  d.  of  Robert  Turney.  His  will  is  dated  22.  Sept.  1669,  in  which  he  gives  to 
Isaac,  Mary  &  Ruth  iOs,  they  having  received  their  father's  portion  previously  ;  tod.  Hannah  £1$. 
she  having  received  a  part  of  her  portion  ;  to  s's  Samuel,  Timothy  &  Ephraim  minors,  £  each  of  the 
building  &  land  he  then  lived  upon,  when  of  age  ;  to  Rebecca,  a  minor,  land  between  Hawkins 
brook  &  John  Odell's  house  at  Greenlea  ;  to  Abigail  &  Judith,  minors  30^".  each,  when  married  or 
at  18  years  of  age  ;  tow.  Ann  the  use  &  choice  of  one  end  of  his  house,  at  her  death  or  marriage, 
&  then  to  be  possessed  wholly  by  Samuel.  He  made  his  wife  executrix,  &  his  cousin  John  Wheeler 
&  Nathan  Gold  over-seers  of  his  estate.  Rebecca  m.  Samuel  Gregory,  who  settled  a  little  above 
the  present  St  John's  Church. 

WHELPLEY 

HENRY  WHELPLEY  was  at  Stratford  in  1645,  &  was  soon  after  at  F., where  he  was  granted  a  home- 
lot  on  the  s.  w.  corner  of  the  Frost  Square.  He  sold  this  place  in  1653,  to  Alexander  Knovvles.  His 
widow  Sarah,  m.  Ralph  Keeler  of  Norwalk.  He  was  probably  the  father  of  Joseph  &  Rebecca  & 
perhaps  other  children.  Rebecca  m.  Ezekiel  Sandford  of  Pequonnock  25.  April  1665  ;  by  whom 
she  had  a  large  family  of  children.  F.  T.  Rec. 

JOSEPH  i.  s.  of  Henry  Whelpley  i.,  m.  Rebecca  d.  of  Thomas  Bulkley  i.  Their  children  were 
Sarah  b.  30.  June  1676  ;  Rebecca  2.  April  1679  ;  Joseph  7.  Oct.  1682  F.  T.  Rec. 

JOSEPH  2.  s.  of  Joseph  Whelpley  i.,  m d.  of Their  children  were  Sarah  bapt. 

16.  March  I7O&1.  &  perhaps  others. 


GENEALOGIES  423 

WILSON 

ANTONY  WILSON  settled  at  F.  about  1643,  &  m.  Rachel,  wid.  of  John  Brandish,  by  whom 
he  had  d.  Sarah.  He  next  m.  Sarah,  the  wid.  of  William  Hill  of  F.,  &  d.  of  Rev.  John  Jones.  He 
d.  early  in  1662,  leaving  a  good  estate  to  his  only  child  Sarah  ;  ^60.  to  his  brother  Samuel  Wilson  : 
legacies  to  his  brother's  Thomas,  &  John  Wilson,  to  his  brothers  William  &  Ignatius  Hill  ;  to  his 
sister  Ann  ;  &  to  his  four  cousins,  meaning  Savage  says,  nephews  Thomas  Wilson,  Peter  Clapham 
&  Edward  &  Samuel  Wilson. 

SAMUEL  WILSON  of  F.,  probably  a  brother  of  the  above  Antony  m.  Phebe  d.  of  Joseph  Mid- 
dlebrook,  under  a  marriage  contract  1679.  He  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  the  N.  II.  Col.  i. 
July  1644.  In  March  the  same  year,  he,  with  several  others  were  fined  each  "  6d.  for  fool  guns." 
Again  he  was  fined  55.  in  1646  for  "  wanting  a  worme,  scourer  &  rest" — he  having  been  warned 
to  provide  them.  And  for  a  defective  cock  on  his  gun  &  his  bandoliers  wanting  covers,  he  was  fined 
another  55.  He  purchased  of  Edward  Wigglesworth  his  house  &  home-lot  i.  Sept.  1646  at  New 
Haven.  On  the  6  Feb.  1649,  he  sold  his  house  &  home  lot  at  New  Haven  to  Thomas  Powell. 
He  probably  at  this  time  removed  to  F.  His  children  were  John,  Isaac,  Daniel  Joseph  &  Stephen 
&  Elizabeth,  all  bapt.  7.  March  1696/7. 

William  Wilson  was  a  freeman  of  F.  8.  Feb.    1668. 

THOMAS  WILSON  of  F.  was  made  a  freeman  in  1664  &  was  probably  a  brother,  or  a  nephew 
of  Antony  Wilson.  He  d.  in  1691,  leaving  wid.  Hannah  &  one  d. 

JOSEPH,  prob.  s.  of  Samuel  Wilson  I.  m.  d.  of .  Their  children  were  Sarah, 

Abigail  &  Elizabeth,  all  bapt.  2.  April  1732,  Anne  16.  July  1732,  Samuel  3.  Nov.  1734. 

NATHANIEL  s.  of Wilson  m.  Elizabeth &  had  children  Nathaniel  &  Anne  bapt. 

7.  April  1795. 

NATHANIEL  2,  s.  of  Nathaniel  Wilson  i.,  m.  -  —  d.  of  -  ,  &  had  s.  Nathaniel  bapt. 

Oct.  1725. 


LIST  OF  GENEALOGIES 


i  Adams. 

23  Hall. 

46  Read. 

2  Andrews. 

24   Hedge. 

47  Robinson. 

3  Banks. 

25   Hide. 

48  Roots. 

4  Barlow. 

26  Hill. 

49  Rowland. 

5  Bartram. 

27  Hubbell. 

50  Sandford. 

6  Beers. 

28   Hull. 

51  Seeley. 

7  Bradley. 

29  Jackson. 

52  Silliman. 

8  Bulkley. 

30  Jennings. 

53  Sherwood. 

g  Burr. 

31  Jessup. 

54  Sprague. 

10  Cabell. 

32  Jones. 

55  Squire. 

ii  Coley. 

33  Joy. 

56  Staples. 

12  Couch. 

34  Knap. 

57  Sturges. 

13  Denny. 

35  Knowles. 

58  Thompson, 

14  Dimond. 

36  Lockwood. 

59  Treadwell. 

15  Fanton. 

37  Lord. 

60  Turney. 

16  Frost. 

38  Lyon. 

61  Wakeley. 

17  Gilbert. 

39  Middlebrook. 

62  Wakeman. 

1  8  Gold. 

40  Morehouse. 

63  Ward. 

19  Godfrey. 

41  Nash. 

64  Webb. 

20  Gray. 

42  Nichols. 

65  Wheeler. 

21  Green. 

43  Odell. 

66  Whelpley. 

22  Grumman. 

44  Ogden. 

67  Wilson. 

45  Osborne. 

ABBREVIATIONS 


b born. 

bapt baptized. 

Conn.  Col.  Rec Connecticut  Colonial  Records. 

d.  &  d's daughter,  or  daughters. 

dec.  &  d deceased,  or  died. 

F Fairfield. 

F.  T.  D Fairfield  Town  Deeds. 

F.  Par.  Rec Fairfield  Parish  Records, 

F.  Prob.  Rec Fairfield  Probate  Records. 

G.  F.  Par.  Rec Green's  Farm's  Parish  Records. 

G.  H.  Par.  Rec Greenfield  Hill  Parish  Records. 

Gen.    Ct General  Court. 

H.  C Harvard  College. 

m married. 

Mass.  Col.  Rec Massachusetts  Colonial  Records. 

N.  H.  Col.  Rec New  Haven  Colonial  Records. 

N.  E Northeast. 

N.  W Northwest. 

S.  &  S's Son,  or  sons. 

S.  E Southeast. 

S.  W Southwest. 

wid Widow. 

w..  ..Wife, 


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